Noam Chomsky on Universal Grammar

Understanding Universal Grammar

• Universal Grammar (UG):
  • Traditionally had a fixed meaning but has taken a technical meaning in modern linguistics.
  • Refers to the theory of the genetic component of the human language faculty.
  • Based on the idea that there’s a genetic component enabling language acquisition.

Key Points

• Genetic Component:

  • Humans have a genetic capacity for language, distinguishing them from other animals.
  • Children can identify language-related parts of their environment and learn language reflexively.
  • In contrast, animals with similar environments cannot identify these language components.

• Controversy and Acceptance:

  • Historically, there’s been controversy, especially regarding human mental faculties.
  • Methodological dualism: treating human faculties mystically rather than scientifically.
  • The existence of UG as a genetic property should not be controversial.

Evolution of Chomsky's Views

• Paradox of Language Acquisition:

  • Humans share a uniform genetic capacity for language across cultures.
  • Languages have complex rules but humans can acquire any language given the right environment.

• Principles and Parameters (1980s):

  • Proposed as a model to solve the paradox.
  • Principles: Fixed, invariant aspects of language that don’t need to be acquired.
  • Parameters: Options set by children based on limited data (e.g., head-first vs. head-last languages).

Research and Developments

• Recent Progress:
  • Recent studies suggest some linguistic principles may be due to non-linguistic principles like computational efficiency.
  • Recursive Enumeration: The new ability to construct infinite expressions in the mind.

Biological and Evolutionary Considerations

• Human Evolution and Language:

  • Language capacity developed between 200,000 and 50,000 years ago, a rapid evolutionary change.
  • Likely due to a small genetic mutation that spread quickly.
  • This mutation allowed for recursive thinking and infinite linguistic creativity.

• Research Goals:

  • Aim to demonstrate that linguistic complexity arises from general principles rather than unique linguistic properties.

Conclusion

• Universal Grammar's Existence:
  • The existence of a universal grammar cannot be disputed without invoking magical thinking.
  • The notion that humans have a unique genetic language capacity is fundamental.

Summary

Chomsky explains that while his views on the specifics of UG have evolved, especially with the principles and parameters framework, the fundamental belief in a genetic basis for language remains unchanged. Current research is exploring how much of language can be attributed to general principles like computational efficiency rather than unique linguistic rules.