Comprehension Hypothesis

The Comprehension Hypothesis refers to subconscious acquisition, not conscious learning.

The Comprehension Hypothesis states that we acquire language when we understand messages, when we understand what people tell us and when we understand what we read.

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• We acquire by comprehensible input (i) + 1.
• Input Hypothesis relates to acquisition, not learning. 
• Focus not on structure but on understanding the message.
• Do not teach structure deliberately; i+1 is provided naturally when input is understood.
• Production ability emerges. It’s not taught directly.