The term "language acquisition device" is commonly used in linguistics to refer to the theoretical innate mechanism or mental structure that allows humans to acquire language. However, there are several synonyms or alternative terms that have been proposed by different researchers. One such term is "language faculty," which refers to the cognitive capacity for language that is specific to humans and innate. Other synonyms include "language instinct," which emphasizes the innate nature of language acquisition, and "universal grammar," which refers to the shared underlying rules and principles of all languages. Linguists continue to debate the nature and existence of this device and its potential synonyms.