Universal grammar & the language facultyDay 4, Sept. 5, 2012Introduction to Syntax

ANTH 3590/7590

Harry Howard

Tulane University

Course management

http://www.tulane.edu/~howard/ANTH3590/

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§1.3 Universal Grammar

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Some ideas

Cognitive approach Tacit/explicit knowledge of language Competence/performance I-language Criteria of adequacy of a theory of UG

Universality/descriptive adequacy Explanatory adequacy Parsimony

Interface between PF & semantics Learnability

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§1.4 The Language Faculty

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Some more ideas

Theory of language acquisition Uniformity Rapidity Ignore correction

Faculty of language (FL) Experience of L > FL (LAD) > grammar of L

Innateness hypothesis of language acquisition Unique to humans Doesn’t depend on intelligence Doesn’t vary much Uniform & rapid Critical period

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§1.5 Principles of UG

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Even more ideas

Universal Grammar Examples 18-20, pp. 20-21 Principles of UG

Locality Minimization of how much a child has to

learn

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NEXT TIMEParameters, summary

§1.6 - 1.8 + Ex 1.1 - 1.2

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