Noam Chomsky's Universal Grammar Theory

Study Notes

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.

Description

Explore the concept of Universal Grammar, a fundamental idea in linguistics that proposes an innate capacity for language acquisition. Learn about the key features, including the Poverty of the Stimulus and Linguistic Universals.