15.2 Universal grammar and language universals
2 min read•july 25, 2024
, proposed by , suggests all humans have innate linguistic knowledge. This theory explains rapid in children and similarities across diverse languages, encompassing and that shape language structure.
can be absolute (present in all languages) or statistical (common but with exceptions). Evidence for these universals comes from structural similarities, child language acquisition patterns, and features in newly developed languages, though challenges and diversity complicate universal claims.
Universal Grammar and Language Universals
Concept of universal grammar
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- Universal Grammar (UG) postulates innate linguistic knowledge present in all humans proposed by Noam Chomsky in 1950s
- Key components of UG encompass principles (universal rules applicable to all languages) and parameters (language-specific variations within principles)
- UG explains rapid language acquisition in children accounts for similarities across diverse languages provides framework for understanding language structure
- UG facilitates first language acquisition influences second language acquisition theories
Absolute vs statistical universals
- features present in all known languages without exception (all languages have consonants and vowels, nouns and verbs)
- features common to most languages but with some exceptions also called tendencies or near-universals (most languages have nasal consonants, Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order is most common)
- if a language has feature X, it will also have feature Y (if a language has dual number, it also has plural)
Evidence for language universals
- Structural similarities across unrelated languages support language universals
- Consistent patterns in child language acquisition reinforce universal grammar theory
- Recurring features in newly developed languages (creoles) provide evidence for universals
- Challenges arise from languages violating proposed universals (Pirahã language challenges as a universal)
- Diversity in grammatical structures across languages complicates universal claims
- Methodological considerations include sample size and representativeness in
- Case studies like support certain modality-independent universals
Universals and language faculty
- Human comprises cognitive capacity for language acquisition and use possibly localized in specific brain regions ()
- Language universals potentially reflect suggesting common neural basis for shared features across languages
- include genetic factors influencing language ability evolution of human vocal tract and neural structures
- Implications for language origin theories debate vs of language and gradual evolution vs sudden emergence of language faculty
- Interdisciplinary perspectives draw contributions from neuroscience and cognitive psychology insights from comparative studies with non-human primates
Key Terms to Review (20)
Absolute universals: Absolute universals are linguistic features or properties that are found in every human language without exception. This concept is important in understanding the nature of human language and the idea that certain characteristics are inherent to all languages, suggesting an underlying universal grammar shared by all humans.
Biological foundations: Biological foundations refer to the innate and physiological mechanisms that underlie the capacity for language in humans. This concept highlights the idea that certain aspects of language are hardwired into the human brain, shaped by genetic and neurobiological factors, which connect to the understanding of universal grammar and language universals as fundamental traits shared across different languages.
Broca's Area: Broca's area is a region in the frontal lobe of the brain that is crucial for speech production and language processing. This area is primarily located in the left hemisphere and plays a significant role in forming grammatically correct sentences, making it a key focus in understanding how language functions in the brain.
Cognitive constraints: Cognitive constraints refer to the limitations of human cognitive processing that affect how language is acquired, produced, and understood. These constraints highlight the relationship between human cognition and the structure of language, suggesting that our mental capacities shape the way languages are structured and learned. Understanding these constraints helps explain why certain linguistic features are universally found across different languages.
Creole languages: Creole languages are stable, fully developed natural languages that arise from the mixing of two or more languages, often in contexts where speakers of different native languages need to communicate, such as in trade or colonization. These languages typically blend elements from their parent languages and evolve through processes of simplification and restructuring, ultimately becoming a primary means of communication for communities.
Cross-linguistic studies: Cross-linguistic studies examine how different languages compare and interact with one another, revealing patterns and structures that may be universal or specific to certain language families. These studies help in understanding the principles of universal grammar by analyzing the similarities and differences between languages, which can lead to insights about the nature of language and cognition.
Implicational universals: Implicational universals are statements about language that express a relationship between two linguistic features, indicating that the presence of one feature implies the presence of another. These universals suggest that certain grammatical characteristics tend to occur together across different languages, highlighting patterns in human language structure. By studying these implications, linguists can gain insights into universal grammar and how different languages organize their systems.
Language acquisition: Language acquisition refers to the process through which humans learn to understand and communicate using language, typically occurring during early childhood. This process encompasses both the subconscious internalization of linguistic rules and the gradual development of the ability to produce language. It connects to various aspects such as the nature of linguistic analysis, the impact of disorders on communication abilities, and the principles underlying universal grammar and language universals.
Language faculty: The language faculty refers to the innate biological ability of humans to acquire and use language. This concept suggests that all humans are born with a specific cognitive capacity that enables them to understand and produce language, regardless of the particular languages they are exposed to during their development. This ability is closely tied to the idea of universal grammar, which posits that there are common structural rules shared across all languages.
Language universals: Language universals are features or characteristics that are common to all human languages, suggesting an underlying structure in the way languages function. These universals can be categorized into absolute universals, which apply to every known language, and statistical universals, which appear in most languages but have exceptions. The concept of language universals plays a key role in theories of universal grammar and helps linguists understand the innate properties of human language.
Monogenesis: Monogenesis is the theory that all human languages originate from a single source or common ancestor. This idea suggests that all languages have developed from one primitive language, leading to the diversity of languages seen today. Monogenesis connects to key concepts like universal grammar and language universals by implying that despite linguistic diversity, there are inherent similarities among all languages due to their common origin.
Noam Chomsky: Noam Chomsky is a renowned linguist and cognitive scientist known for his revolutionary ideas about language structure and acquisition. His theories have reshaped our understanding of how language functions, leading to the development of key concepts like universal grammar and the distinction between phonemes and allophones. Chomsky's work has laid the groundwork for understanding syntactic categories, the process of word formation, and the innate capabilities humans possess for learning languages.
Parameters: Parameters are the specific rules or constraints that define the options available within a language, shaping how universal grammar can manifest in different languages. They help linguists understand variations among languages by indicating which grammatical features can change while still adhering to a universal framework. This concept is essential for studying language universals, as it highlights how languages can be alike in fundamental ways yet differ in particular aspects.
Polygenesis: Polygenesis refers to the concept that languages can originate independently in different geographical locations or communities, rather than evolving from a single source. This idea contrasts with monogenesis, which suggests that all languages stem from a common ancestor. Polygenesis supports the notion of multiple language families and emphasizes the diversity of linguistic development across cultures.
Principles: In linguistics, principles refer to the fundamental rules or guidelines that govern the structure and function of languages. These principles are integral to the concept of universal grammar, as they help explain the innate grammatical knowledge that humans possess, which enables them to learn any language. They also play a significant role in identifying language universals, which are features or characteristics shared by all languages.
Recursion: Recursion is a linguistic phenomenon where a structure can be embedded within itself, allowing for the creation of potentially infinite expressions and complex sentence structures. This ability to nest clauses or phrases plays a crucial role in the generation of language, as it enables speakers to convey detailed information and relationships between ideas in a compact way. Recursion is considered a fundamental aspect of universal grammar, illustrating how all human languages share this capacity to combine elements hierarchically.
Sign Languages: Sign languages are fully developed, natural languages that use visual gestures and signs to convey meaning, primarily used by deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. These languages have their own grammar and vocabulary distinct from spoken languages, allowing for complex expression and communication among users. Like all languages, sign languages exhibit properties of universal grammar and language universals, reflecting the innate capacity of humans to create structured forms of communication.
Sov word order: SOV word order refers to the sentence structure where the subject comes first, followed by the object, and then the verb. This type of syntax is a defining feature of several languages, impacting how information is conveyed and understood in communication. SOV structures help in identifying relationships between sentence elements and can reflect cultural aspects of the languages that utilize this order.
Statistical universals: Statistical universals refer to patterns or tendencies observed across languages that can be quantified and expressed in probabilistic terms. These universals help linguists identify commonalities in language structure and use, indicating that while languages may differ, they often exhibit similar patterns when viewed through a statistical lens.
Universal grammar: Universal grammar is the theory that suggests all human languages share a common underlying structure, which is innate to humans and shapes the way we acquire language. This concept posits that our ability to learn language is not solely dependent on environmental factors but is also influenced by an inherent linguistic capability present in all individuals. This idea connects to how we understand first language acquisition, the classification of languages, and the nature of language universals across different cultures.