Noam Chomsky's Universal Grammar Theory

Noam Chomsky's Theory

Universal Grammar

• Definition: Universal Grammar (UG) refers to the innate, genetically determined capacity of humans to acquire and understand language.
• Key Features:
  • Poverty of the Stimulus: The idea that children are not exposed to enough linguistic data to learn a language through experience alone.
  • Linguistic Universals: Certain features and rules are common to all human languages, suggesting an innate basis for language acquisition.
• Claims: Chomsky argues that UG is hard-wired into the human brain, providing a framework for language acquisition and understanding.

Language Acquisition

• Language Acquisition Device (LAD): A hypothetical module in the brain that enables children to acquire language rapidly and effortlessly.
• Key Features:
  • Innateness: The LAD is innate, providing an innate capacity for language acquisition.
  • Creativity: The LAD allows children to generate an infinite number of sentences from a finite set of rules.
  • Universality: The LAD is universal, applying to all human languages.
• Stages of Language Acquisition:
  1. Babbling (6-9 months): Children experiment with sounds and phonology.
  2. Holophrastic Stage (9-12 months): Children use one-word sentences to communicate.
  3. Telegraphic Speech (12-24 months): Children use short, grammatically simple sentences.
  4. Linguistic Competence (2-3 years): Children develop a mature understanding of language rules and syntax.

Universal Grammar

• Universal Grammar (UG) is the innate, genetically determined capacity of humans to acquire and understand language.
• The Poverty of the Stimulus argument suggests that children are not exposed to enough linguistic data to learn a language through experience alone.
• Linguistic Universals, such as certain features and rules common to all human languages, imply an innate basis for language acquisition.

Key Features of Universal Grammar

• Hard-wired into the human brain, providing a framework for language acquisition and understanding.
• Enables children to acquire language rapidly and effortlessly.

Language Acquisition Device (LAD)

• A hypothetical module in the brain that enables children to acquire language rapidly and effortlessly.
• Innate capacity for language acquisition allows children to generate an infinite number of sentences from a finite set of rules.
• Universality of the LAD applies to all human languages.

Stages of Language Acquisition

• Babbling (6-9 months): Children experiment with sounds and phonology.
• Holophrastic Stage (9-12 months): Children use one-word sentences to communicate.
• Telegraphic Speech (12-24 months): Children use short, grammatically simple sentences.
• Linguistic Competence (2-3 years): Children develop a mature understanding of language rules and syntax.