LING 1010 TEST QUESTIONS 2025, ALL WITH
DETAILED VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
principles and parameters theory
the theory that tries to explain similarities and differences among languages in a systematic
way
principles
general principles that govern the way languages work, these properties are shared by all
human languages
parameters
a finite set of options or settings that determine how languages can vary
head parameter
determines whether heads come first in their phrases (head-initial) or whether they come out
null subject parameter
if set to "no" a subject is always required in (tensed) sentences; if set to 'yes' subjects are not
required if they can be recovered from the context
D-Quantifier Parameter
if set to "yes" then the language allows determiners D to express quantification; if set to "no"
the language does not allow this, but still allows quantification by adverbs, ADV
why are parameters nice as a theory of language variation
explains a large amount of languages with a small number of parameters
what can the principles and parameters theory NOT explain
phonemes (different sounds of each language)
reading L to R
, positive evidence
evidence about which items are PRESENT in the infinite set
the problem: there is no guarantee that the relevant evidence will be given
negative evidence
evidence about which items are ABSENT in the infinite set
you can use negative evidence to test hypotheses until you find the right one
do children use negative evidence for language acquisition
NO - don't understand feedback
logical problem of language acquisition
we need negative evidence but didn't use it to acquire language
pure nativism
knowledge is innate and derives from biology
pure empiricism
the mind is a blank slate, all knowledge derives from experience
modern nativism
-substantial innate knowledge
-input/experience still plays a role, but less than the role it plays in empiricism
-the innate knowledge can be domain-specific
modern empiricism
-minimal innate knowledge
-input/experience plays the largest role in learning
-if there is innate knowledge, it is domain-general
categorical perception
DETAILED VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
principles and parameters theory
the theory that tries to explain similarities and differences among languages in a systematic
way
principles
general principles that govern the way languages work, these properties are shared by all
human languages
parameters
a finite set of options or settings that determine how languages can vary
head parameter
determines whether heads come first in their phrases (head-initial) or whether they come out
null subject parameter
if set to "no" a subject is always required in (tensed) sentences; if set to 'yes' subjects are not
required if they can be recovered from the context
D-Quantifier Parameter
if set to "yes" then the language allows determiners D to express quantification; if set to "no"
the language does not allow this, but still allows quantification by adverbs, ADV
why are parameters nice as a theory of language variation
explains a large amount of languages with a small number of parameters
what can the principles and parameters theory NOT explain
phonemes (different sounds of each language)
reading L to R
, positive evidence
evidence about which items are PRESENT in the infinite set
the problem: there is no guarantee that the relevant evidence will be given
negative evidence
evidence about which items are ABSENT in the infinite set
you can use negative evidence to test hypotheses until you find the right one
do children use negative evidence for language acquisition
NO - don't understand feedback
logical problem of language acquisition
we need negative evidence but didn't use it to acquire language
pure nativism
knowledge is innate and derives from biology
pure empiricism
the mind is a blank slate, all knowledge derives from experience
modern nativism
-substantial innate knowledge
-input/experience still plays a role, but less than the role it plays in empiricism
-the innate knowledge can be domain-specific
modern empiricism
-minimal innate knowledge
-input/experience plays the largest role in learning
-if there is innate knowledge, it is domain-general
categorical perception
