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Language
Lecture 1
Genetic basis of grammar
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Cards (6)
Genetic basis of grammar - speed of acquisition
Adults don’t
teach
children language
facilitated by
genetic
factors = evident in speed &
ease
children acquire language without
explicit
instruction from adults
Genetic basis for grammar - critical period
when language acquisition most
efficient
After = becomes increasingly
challenging
to learn a language.
genetic basis for grammar - poverty of stimulus
Can't learn from
exposure
alone - too many
words
&
combinations
Degenerate
Input -
Segmentation
problem, Errors:
hesitations
,
slips
of tongue
insufficient
stimulus
for grammar
deduction
, no
neagtive
learning
Segmentation problem
spoken
language - no clear
pauses
or
breaks
between words
how do children know where words
start
&
end
Genetic basis for grammar - Convergence of grammars
Across
diverse
linguistic
environments
=
convergence
in grammatical
structures
acquired by children, suggesting
innate
language-learning
mechanisms
Genetic basis for grammar - specificity to species
Syntax
, or grammatical
structure
=
uniquely
human trait
indicating
biological
basis for language
acquisition
&
use