Which theory posits that babies learn language structure through identifying breaks, pauses, and syllables?

The theory that babies learn language structure by identifying breaks, pauses, and syllables is known as Statistical Learning. This approach suggests that infants have an innate ability to track statistical properties of the language they are exposed to, allowing them to discern patterns and structures. For example, they can recognize that certain sounds frequently occur together or that certain syllables tend to precede or follow others, which helps them internalize the rules of their native language.

Through this process, infants develop a mental representation of the phonetic and syllabic structures of spoken language, effectively enabling them to segment speech into meaningful units. This ability to identify patterns is critical for language acquisition, as it lays the foundation for understanding syntax and grammar beyond mere vocabulary.