Universal Grammar Overview video
Summary
TLDRNoam Chomsky's Universal Grammar theory posits an innate language acquisition device in the human brain, shaped by universal principles and parameters that dictate the structure of all human languages. Challenging behaviorist views, Chomsky observed children's creative language use and resistance to correction, suggesting a subconscious linguistic competence. Principles ensure structural similarities across languages, while parameters, like branching direction, account for differences. This theory also explains the development of pidgin and Creole languages, reinforcing the idea of an innate capacity for language.
Takeaways
- π Universal Grammar, also known as generative linguistics, is a concept popularized by Noam Chomsky, emphasizing the innate capacities of the human mind for language learning.
- π§ Chomsky's theory is an innatist approach, contrasting with the behavioralist approach that views language acquisition as habit formation through stimulus-response mechanisms.
- πΆ Chomsky challenged the behavioralist view by observing that children often invent novel phrases and do not always correct their language use based on adult feedback, indicating a more complex cognitive process.
- π Principles of Universal Grammar suggest that all human languages share a common structure, such as the presence of noun and verb phrases, reflecting limited variation among languages.
- π§ Parameters within Universal Grammar account for the differences between languages, such as the head parameter determining whether a language is right- or left-branching.
- πΆπ» Children's language development, or 'interlanguage,' is systematic and subconscious, guided by an internal understanding of language rules, which Chomsky attributes to the brain's innate structure.
- 𧩠The brain is thought to have 'switches' for language parameters that are set based on the linguistic input received during early childhood, influencing sentence construction.
- π« The critical period hypothesis, related to Universal Grammar, posits that without timely linguistic input, the brain may not set these parameters correctly, affecting language acquisition.
- π Functional components of language are a closed class, closely tied to the language acquisition device, while lexical items are an open class, allowing for continuous vocabulary growth.
- π± Pidgin languages, which emerge among adults in communication breakdowns, follow the rules of Universal Grammar, suggesting the theory's applicability even in non-standard language development.
- π Chomsky is considered the father of modern linguistics, and his theory of Universal Grammar has been influential in understanding the human capacity for language, despite some challenges to the view.
Q & A
What is the concept of Universal Grammar?
-Universal Grammar, also known as generative linguistics, is a theory proposed by Noam Chomsky that suggests humans are born with an innate capacity to learn and understand language, which is related to the genetic makeup and innate capacities of our minds.
How does Universal Grammar differ from the behavioralist approach to language acquisition?
-The behavioralist approach views language acquisition as habit formation through stimulus-response relationships and reinforcement. In contrast, Universal Grammar posits that language acquisition involves more than just imitation and includes an innate capacity for generating sentences and understanding grammar.
What did Chomsky observe about children's language development that challenged the behavioralist approach?
-Chomsky observed that children often create novel sentences and phrases, and do not always correct their language errors even after being corrected by adults, indicating that language acquisition involves more than simple imitation and reinforcement.
What is the term used to describe the systematic development of a child's language?
-The systematic development of a child's language is referred to as 'interlanguage,' which represents the internal, subconscious understanding or theory of how the grammar of a language works.
What are the two key concepts Chomsky introduced to explain Universal Grammar?
-The two key concepts Chomsky introduced are 'principles' and 'parameters.' Principles are universal aspects of language that are consistent across all human languages, while parameters account for the variations between languages.
Can you provide an example of a principle in Universal Grammar?
-An example of a principle in Universal Grammar is 'structure dependency,' which states that all languages have sentences composed of noun phrases and verb phrases.
What is the role of parameters in Universal Grammar?
-Parameters in Universal Grammar determine the specific ways in which languages can vary. They act as 'switches' in the brain that get set based on the linguistic input a child receives, influencing how sentences are constructed in a particular language.
How does the concept of 'right-branching' and 'left-branching' languages relate to Universal Grammar?
-The concept of 'right-branching' and 'left-branching' languages is an example of how parameters work in Universal Grammar. It explains how languages differ in the way they construct sentences, with English being a right-branching language and Japanese being a left-branching language.
What is the critical period hypothesis in relation to language acquisition?
-The critical period hypothesis suggests that there is a specific time frame in a child's life during which language acquisition is most effective. If linguistic input is not received during this period, the brain may not set the appropriate parameters for language acquisition, affecting the individual's ability to learn a language.
How does Chomsky differentiate between the functional and lexical components of language?
-According to Chomsky, the functional components of language, such as grammar and phonemes, are a closed class and are closely related to the language acquisition device. In contrast, lexical items, or vocabulary, are an open class that can be continually added to throughout a person's life.
What evidence supports the existence of Universal Grammar in newly formed languages like pidgins and creoles?
-Pidgin languages, which emerge among adults in situations of limited communication, follow the rules of Universal Grammar, suggesting that the principles and parameters are innate. Creole languages, which are the formalized versions of pidgins developed by the second generation, further support the idea that Universal Grammar is a fundamental aspect of human language acquisition.
Outlines
π Introduction to Universal Grammar and Chomsky's Theory
This paragraph introduces the concept of Universal Grammar, also known as generative linguistics, which is an innate approach to language learning. Noam Chomsky is credited with popularizing this idea, which challenges the behavioralist view of language acquisition based on habit formation and stimulus-response mechanisms. Chomsky observed that children often create novel sentences and do not always correct their language use when reprimanded, suggesting an internal process at work. He proposed that children develop an 'interlanguage', an internal, subconscious understanding of grammar, which is guided by the brain's innate structure. Chomsky's theory of Universal Grammar posits that humans inherit a set of principles and parameters that shape the languages we can learn, making them inherently similar yet distinct.
π Principles and Parameters in Universal Grammar
The second paragraph delves deeper into the principles and parameters that define Universal Grammar. Principles are universal features of language, such as structure dependency, which dictates that sentences are composed of noun and verb phrases. Parameters, on the other hand, account for the differences among languages, like the head parameter determining whether a language is right or left branching. The paragraph explains how the brain, equipped with these innate linguistic structures, adjusts its settings based on the language input it receives during early childhood. This process shapes the individual's language acquisition, emphasizing the importance of exposure during the critical period for language learning. The paragraph also touches on the distinction between functional components, which are fixed and related to the language acquisition device, and lexical items, which are open to continuous expansion throughout life.
π± The Role of Language Acquisition Device and Critical Period Hypothesis
The final paragraph discusses the language acquisition device, a concept central to Chomsky's theory, which suggests that the human brain is innately designed to learn languages. It highlights the early setting of linguistic parameters, possibly as early as 18 months of age, and the importance of input during this critical period. The paragraph also references the orders of acquisition, a sequence in which children learn different aspects of language, which supports the idea of an innate linguistic structure. It mentions the challenges to Chomsky's theory but concludes by emphasizing the significance of Universal Grammar in understanding how languages are acquired and developed, including the emergence of pidgin and creole languages, which also adhere to the principles of Universal Grammar.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Universal Grammar
π‘Generative Linguistics
π‘Innatist Approach
π‘Behavioralist Approach
π‘Language Acquisition Device (LAD)
π‘Interlanguage
π‘Principles and Parameters
π‘Head Parameter
π‘Critical Period Hypothesis
π‘Functional Components
π‘Pidgin and Creole Languages
Highlights
Noam Chomsky is the individual who popularized the concept of Universal Grammar.
Universal Grammar is also known as generative linguistics and is related to the innate capacities of our mind.
Chomsky challenged the behavioralist approach to language acquisition, which focuses on habit formation.
Language acquisition involves children creating new ways of saying things, not just simple imitation.
Children's language development is systematic and subconscious, forming an internal language understanding.
Universal Grammar suggests an inherited set of principles and parameters that shape human languages.
Principles of Universal Grammar indicate limited variations in language structures, such as structure dependency.
Parameters in Universal Grammar account for the differences between languages, like the head parameter.
The head parameter determines whether a language is right-branching or left-branching.
Brain's innate language acquisition device sets parameters based on input received during early childhood.
Critical period hypothesis suggests that without early input, language acquisition may be impaired.
Functional components of language are a closed class, while lexical items are an open class, allowing continuous vocabulary growth.
Pidgin languages, developed among adults, follow the rules of Universal Grammar, supporting its existence.
Creole languages evolve from pidgins and are formalized by the second generation.
Chomsky is often considered the father of modern linguistics, with a significant impact on the field.
The concept of Universal Grammar suggests an innate capacity in the human brain to learn languages.
Brown's research on orders of acquisition explains the consistent order in which children learn language components.
Transcripts
brief presentation my goal is to give
you a high level overview of the concept
of universal grammar and the individual
who popularized this concept is Noam
Chomsky and Universal grandma or grammar
is also known as generative Linguistics
and it's related really to the study of
genetics and the innate capacities of
our mind so sometimes you will hear this
also referred to as an innatist approach
to Linguistics at any rate No One Noam
Chomsky challenged the behavioralist
approach to first language acquisition
and in that approach language
acquisition is more about habit
formation
it is you get a stimulant stimulus
response type of relationship
and that if there's enough input and
positive and negative reinforcement then
a child or a person will imitate and
learn the first language or the second
language they're seeking to learn that's
kind of the behavioralist approach
um what Chomsky suggested is that
language acquisition is not simply a
matter of stimulus and response and as a
matter of fact when he observed children
um he noted that children are constantly
coming up with new ways of saying things
and as a matter of fact if you
um correct a child a lot of times they
will just keep saying the phrase the
wrong way even though they've never
heard anyone say it incorrectly before
so it shows that there's not just a
simple imitation going on here there's
something else going in the way the
child's learning to put together
language and then the fact that they're
not responding to rec correction
indicates that the behavioral strategy
isn't quite enough
interestingly these children eventually
end up learning the basic structures of
their first language and so somehow they
work out that incorrect component of
language or their language use across
time and it seems like it's something
going on in their brain that helps them
to do that so as children learn their
first language the language develops in
a kind of systematic way and that
developing language is what we sometimes
call inter language and the inner
language is that mental
um
understanding of how language works and
it is a kind of internally consistent
understanding or theory of how the
grammar of the language works and it's
not something that's conscious it's more
subconscious it's in the brain and it
and in chomsky's view it's related to
how the brain is wired to learn a
language so he came up with this concept
of universal grammar and Chomsky in this
idea suggests that all human beings
inherit a universal set of principles
and parameters that control
and shape human the shape that human
languages can take and which are what
make human languages similar to each
other so when you look at human
languages actually they're they're quite
similar but they're different and he
came up with two really important
Concepts to explain what's going on with
universal grammar and how we end up with
different languages and the first is
this idea of principles
and this is the idea that language is
actually actually vary in limited ways
and that there are some things that are
true of all human languages if you
compare all the languages in the world
you will discover for example that there
is something that linguists calls
structure dependency and this tells us
that all languages have sentences that
consist of noun phrases and verb phrases
there are other examples of principles
that that are known out there but
Chomsky also identified is that we have
this principle right that there are
there's structure dependency now there
are also parameters and the parameters
are the areas in which languages differ
so parameters tell us how languages are
different so for example there's a
parameter called the head parameter and
the head parameter then determines
whether a language will be a
right-branching language or a left
branching language and this is how
languages then become different
English is a right branching language
what that means is we build sentences to
the right so we say the woman who is
sitting over there is reading a book
right it's all the the sentence is
moving in the direction of the right
um
Japanese interestingly is constructed in
a reverse order so if the Japanese were
to say that exact sentence they would
say
um sitting over there the woman
is reading a book
and so they build it in kind of reverse
order and so that's what we mean by
right branching and left branching and
the way Universal grammar explains this
is the brain has the principle there
right that there is a kind of structure
dependency and then as a child starts to
receive input
and they receive the input from their
parents from people around them they're
receiving input even in the womb
and the Brain it's like they have the
brain has switches there and the Brain
identifies oh this language that I'm
receiving input for is a right branching
language so if you live in if your child
living in the U.S the um
the switch gets set to a right branching
language if you grow up in Japan the
switch gets set to a left branching
language and then the brain knows how to
construct sentences in that language and
it begins to to work that out the same
concept works with other parameters
within language we don't have time to
get into that at this point but that's
the idea of universal grammar that there
is this innate language acquisition
device built into our brains
all of there are all these Universal
principles that are there and then there
are these parameters which are kind of
like switches in the brain and as we
receive input then the brain knows which
way to set them that's the problem that
we discussed uh previously regarding
um the critical period hypothesis if you
don't get that input the brain doesn't
know how to switch those switch you know
how to set those switches and then it
doesn't know how to acquire the
functional part of language
that is a really important Concept in
Universal grammar so for Chomsky then
the functional components of language
are a closed class
in other words you can't add to them
and they're closely related to the
language acquisition device the
functional part is the grammatical
component it's the phonemes it's the
different sounds that we have and such
that we can hear and understand
and so that's why in the critical period
hypothesis then if you if you haven't
picked up certain sounds for example
like Japanese
um by the time they're uh six years old
they can't hear a difference between
Lake and rake for them the phone
phonemic difference between an l and an
R is set and so they can hear the
difference later but it um is they can't
hear it later they can figure it out
later based on context and then the same
is true with
um
the grammatical part so they know at
that early age oh this is a left
branching language or right branching
language
however
um even though functional components of
language are closed lexical items are
actually an Open Class and that means
that we can add vocabulary continually
throughout our lives and continue to
build that and that is separate in
chomsky's view then from the functional
part of language the last thing I wanted
to say here is that it is interesting
that
um
there are new languages that emerge
among adults and an example of that is a
pidgin language and there are some
situations in which people have moved
for example to the Caribbean islands and
they maybe they were brought there years
and years ago as slaves and when they
got there they couldn't communicate well
with their masters
and then they
they were separated and mixed together
so they couldn't really communicate with
people from their own language group so
they ended up creating a separate
language called a pidgin language and
when we look at these pidgin languages
pigeon languages are always developed
among first
um
um generation peoples but they seem to
actually follow these rules of universal
grammar it's kind of a
another proof I guess the universe
Universal grammar
um exists and then pigeons later this is
a little extra information but when the
second generation comes along they
formalize those they kind of fill out
those languages
um and they become what are called
Creole languages anyway that is a strong
argument the fact that they're even
pigeons are embedded in this kind of
concept of universal grammar that they
are indeed full languages in their whole
right so this is Noam chomsky's Theory
he's often known as the father of modern
Linguistics and he wouldn't use this
phrase because he's a bit of an
evolutionist but I will say the big idea
here is that God has designed the human
brain with the innate capacity to learn
languages I think this is really cool um
there are some challenges to this view
but the key ideas here are that we have
a language acquisition device
part of that are these principles that
are there for all languages and then
parameters are these switches where when
we get input as children they're set to
go right left or whatever the others
might be and those settings begin very
early in life as early as 18 months of
age and then we had previously discussed
this concept of orders of acquisition
and how there is this research by Brown
saying that when we learn the different
functional components of language we
actually learn them in a kind of set
order that too explains why it is that
children come up with these crazy
novel phrases and use words kind of
incorrectly but and we can't fix it we
might try to correct them but we can't
really correct them but somehow their
brain works it out across time and those
sequences show us that
there's a consistent order in which
children work those out and their brain
helps them work out
what the the target language is going to
look like this is the concept of
universal grammar I hope this was
helpful to you thanks
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