Universal grammar
Universal grammar (UG) is a theory in linguistics, usually credited to Noam Chomsky, proposing that the ability to learn grammar is hard-wired into the brain.[1] The theory suggests that linguistic ability manifests itself without being taught (see the poverty of the stimulus argument), and that there are properties that all natural human languages share. It is a matter of observation and experimentation to determine precisely what abilities are innate and what properties are shared by all languages. Argument[edit] The theory of Universal Grammar proposes that if human beings are brought up under normal conditions (not conditions of extreme sensory deprivation), then they will always develop language with a certain property X (e.g., distinguishing nouns from verbs, or distinguishing function words from lexical words). There are theoretical senses of the term Universal Grammar as well (here capitalized). I.e. Relation to the evolution of language[edit] History[edit] Chomsky's theory[edit]
Behaviorism
Behaviorism (or behaviourism), is the science of behavior that focuses on observable behavior only,[1] it is also an approach to psychology that combines elements of philosophy, methodology, and theory.[2] It emerged in the early twentieth century as a reaction to "mentalistic" psychology, which often had difficulty making predictions that could be tested using rigorous experimental methods. The primary tenet of behaviorism, as expressed in the writings of John B. Watson, B. F. From early psychology in the 19th century, the behaviorist school of thought ran concurrently and shared commonalities with the psychoanalytic and Gestalt movements in psychology into the 20th century; but also differed from the mental philosophy of the Gestalt psychologists in critical ways.[5] Its main influences were Ivan Pavlov, who investigated classical conditioning although he did not necessarily agree with behaviorism or behaviorists, Edward Lee Thorndike, John B. Versions[edit] Two subtypes are:
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky (/ˈnoʊm ˈtʃɒmski/; born December 7, 1928) is an American linguist, philosopher,[21][22] cognitive scientist, logician,[23][24][25] political commentator and anarcho-syndicalist activist. Sometimes described as the "father of modern linguistics",[26][27] Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy.[21] He has spent most of his career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he is currently Professor Emeritus, and has authored over 100 books. He has been described as a prominent cultural figure, and was voted the "world's top public intellectual" in a 2005 poll.[28] Born to a middle-class Ashkenazi Jewish family in Philadelphia, Chomsky developed an early interest in anarchism from relatives in New York City. He later undertook studies in linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained his BA, MA, and PhD, while from 1951 to 1955 he was appointed to Harvard University's Society of Fellows. Early life Childhood: 1928–45
His Ideas
Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origin, and Use - Noam Chomsky
Commentary
Chomsky and Knowledge of Language
Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to Professor Philip L. Peterson, Syracuse University, for his many comments and remarks. References Chomsky, Language and Mind, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc., 1968. Chomsky, N., "Methodological Preliminaries," Aspect of the Theory of Syntax, 1970, pp.26-40. Chomsky, N., Knowledge of Language, Praeger, 1986. Danto, "Semantical Vehicles, Understanding, and Innate Ideas", Language and Philosophy, New York University Press, 1969, pp.122-137. Goldman, A.I., "Innate Knowledge", Innate Ideas, University California Press, 1966. Goodman, N., "The Emperor's New Ideas", Language and Philosophy, New York University Press, 1969, pp.138-142 Harman, "Linguistic Competence and Empiricism," Language and Philosophy, New York University Press, 1969, pp.143-151. Nagel, T., "Linguistics and Epistemology", Language and Philosophy, New York University Press, 1969, pp.171-181. Notes (1) Chomsky, 1986, pp.8-9. (2) Chomsky, 1986, pp.11-12. (4) Chomsky, 1986, p.22. (16) Danto, 1969.
Profiles: The Devil’s Accountant
PROFILE of Noam Chomsky... Writer describes the scene during Chomsky’s Thursday evening M.I.T. class about politics... When Chomsky likened the September 11th attacks to Clinton’s bombing of a factory in Khartoum, many found the comparison not only absurd but repugnant: how could he speak in the same breath of an attack intended to maximize civilian deaths and one intended to minimize them? But, in another sense, Chomsky’s argument was a powerful one. Chomsky is a rationalist: central both to the linguistics for which he first became famous and to his political thinking is the belief that the human mind contains at birth the structures of thought-even moral thought-through which it perceives the world.
Noam Chomsky's Language Acquistion Theories
written by: Vandana Singhal • edited by: Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch • updated: 3/2/2012 Why is there interest in studying languages? To answer this important question, Noam Chomsky proposed linguistic theories. Chomsky’s language acquisition theories are the most important in the world of linguistics. Chomsky's TheoriesOne of the greatest linguists of all times, Noam Chomsky asserts that language is innate. He wrote his famous book, “Language and Mind" in 1972, in which he proposed his famous theories on language acquisition.
