What do all languages have in common? - Cameron Morin

Summary

The script explores Noam Chomsky's theory of universal grammar, which posits that all languages share innate grammatical rules. It discusses the evolution of the theory from generative syntax to principles and parameters, and the concept of recursion as a potential universal rule. The script also addresses the debate on the innateness of language acquisition, challenging behaviorism and emphasizing the genetic basis for language learning, while highlighting the ongoing search for a definitive set of universal grammar rules.

Takeaways

• 📚 Language is highly variable, with individuals capable of generating an infinite number of sentences in their native language from an early age.
• 🧠 Noam Chomsky proposed the theory of 'universal grammar', suggesting that there are innate grammatical rules common to all languages.
• 🌐 Chomsky's theory implies that the human brain is pre-wired to process language according to these universal rules.
• 🔍 Generative syntax was developed as a tool to analyze the hierarchical structure of sentences and deduce potential universal grammar rules.
• 🚫 The process of establishing universal grammar rules is complex and data-intensive, requiring extensive linguistic data from each language.
• 🔄 Chomsky revised his theory in the 1980s to accommodate linguistic variation through the 'principles and parameters' hypothesis.
• 📉 The hypothesis faced challenges when the Piraha language, lacking recursive structures, was discovered, questioning the universality of recursion.
• 🧬 The idea that language acquisition has a genetic component was revolutionary and has been largely accepted in contrast to behaviorist theories.
• 🤔 There is ongoing debate about whether language is a specific, isolated faculty in the brain or part of a broader cognitive system.
• 🌏 Universal grammar theory has spurred the documentation and study of previously unexamined languages, expanding our linguistic knowledge.
• 💡 The theory has also contributed to the reevaluation of old ideas, paving the way for a deeper understanding of the human brain's capacity for language.

Q & A

What is the main idea discussed in the script about human language?

The script discusses the concept of universal grammar, which is the idea that there are innate grammatical rules that apply to all languages, enabling humans to generate an infinite number of sentences from an early age.

Who proposed the theory of universal grammar?

Noam Chomsky proposed the theory of universal grammar in the early 1950s.

What is the significance of grammar in the context of universal grammar?

Grammar is significant because it provides the structure that allows for the understanding of unfamiliar sentences and the generation of an infinite number of sentences in one's native language.

What tool did Chomsky develop to analyze the structure of sentences?

Chomsky developed generative syntax, which uses hierarchical syntax trees to represent the order of words in a sentence and to show possible structures.

Why is it challenging to establish universal grammar rules?

Establishing universal grammar rules is challenging because it requires a large amount of data from each individual language to determine its specific rules before finding commonalities among all languages.

How did Chomsky revise his theory to accommodate linguistic variation?

Chomsky revised his theory with the hypothesis of principles and parameters, suggesting that all languages share certain grammatical principles but can vary in their parameters or the application of these principles.

What is the principle that every sentence must have a subject an example of in Chomsky's revised theory?

The principle that every sentence must have a subject is an example of a shared grammatical principle in Chomsky's revised theory, while the parameter of whether the subject must be explicitly stated can vary between languages.

What is recursion and why was it considered a candidate for a universal grammar rule?

Recursion is a principle that allows structures to be nested inside each other. It was considered a candidate for a universal grammar rule because it can take many forms and is a feature found in many languages.

What challenge did the findings on the Piraha language present to the theory of universal grammar?

The findings on the Piraha language challenged the theory of universal grammar because this language does not appear to have any recursive structures, suggesting that recursion may not be a universal feature of all languages.

How did the theory of universal grammar impact the field of linguistics and cognitive science?

The theory of universal grammar prompted the documentation and study of many previously unstudied languages and led to the reevaluation and eventual overthrowing of the behaviorist paradigm, contributing to a deeper understanding of the human brain and language acquisition.

What is the current consensus among scientists regarding the biological basis for language learning?

The current consensus among scientists is that there is an underlying, genetically encoded biological machinery for language learning, rejecting the behaviorist view of a blank slate and supporting the idea that language learning has a biological basis.

Why do some scientists disagree with Chomsky's idea of a specific, isolated, innate language faculty in the brain?

Some scientists disagree with Chomsky's idea because they believe that the same biology responsible for language is also responsible for other aspects of cognition, suggesting that language is not an isolated faculty but part of a broader cognitive system.