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linguistics: universal grammar - nadiatims - 2010-06-16
I'm interested in hearing the communities' opinions on the debate surrounding universal grammar, the linguistic theory first proposed by Noam Chomsky. I only became aware of this issue after reading about linguist Daniel_Everett, an ex missionary who lost his faith after living with the Piraha people of the Amazon. Everett has publicised his findings that features of the Piraha language disprove Chomsky's widely accepted theory of universal grammar. After reading about the concept of universal grammar, it just seems completely wrong to me, overly complicated and largely irrelevant and yet people take this stuff seriously. Anyone have any thoughts?
linguistics: universal grammar - liosama - 2010-06-16
"completely wrong"? "complicated and irrelevant"?
Care to clarify what you mean? It's fine to find Chomsky's stuff complicated. I think you'd be lucky to find something of his that isn't so.
I don't know too much about any other theories of grammar, but Chomsky's universal grammar was pretty good for me. I'll have to read up more on this Daniel guy but from
Quote:Though a supporter of Everett in the early part of Everett's career, Chomsky refuses to further discuss Everett's works and has called him a charlatan.[5]I'm taking Chomsky's side for now
linguistics: universal grammar - trusmis - 2010-06-16
"Chomsky's widely accepted theory of universal grammar"
WHAT?!
Accepted by who? The universal grammar theory was never widely accepted, although some 20 years years ago may be on debate.
Currently is widely considered false.
linguistics: universal grammar - liosama - 2010-06-16
By whom?
links?
detailssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
linguistics: universal grammar - yudantaiteki - 2010-06-16
"universal grammar" is a term that's often misused by non-linguists; really all it means is that there are certain elements common to all languages, and it provides one possible model for how children can learn language despite the "poverty of input" problem.
linguistics: universal grammar - trusmis - 2010-06-16
For instance:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rethinking_Innateness
I remember seeing a video of Jeff Elman (surely youtube or similar) where he shows a network that learns in a way that Chomsky would have thought native knowledge is needed (i.e. solves the poverty of input problem). So I think it is proven that Chomsky's theories are not needed and more complex but nearer to actual brain development process are in action.
linguistics: universal grammar - liosama - 2010-06-16
Thanks trusmis- Yeah I actually recently ordered Norman Doidge's book 'The brain that changes itself'. I'll give that a read to just dive in the shallow end, then work from there.