UCONN LING 1010 EXAM QUESTIONS 2025, ALL
WITH DETAILED VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
Define types of language-specific universals such as:
Unconditional (absolute) universal
Implicational universal
Disjunctive universal
Unconditional (absolute) universal
all languages have A
Implicational universal
if a language has A it also has B (example: superlative implies comparative affix)
Disjunctive universal
a language has either A or B (aka parameters)
Parameters capture that the differences between languages are limited
Parameters are innate (nature) but their setting depends on language input (nurture)
- Two things children need to learn from
environment -- Lexicon
-- Set the parameters
Parameters universals that give you a choice and allow languages to differ to some extent
- Disjunctive universals
,Universals can be absolute or statistical i.e. tendencies that hold for a lot of languages, but
not for all
Absolute universals: all languages have X in the sense of 'there is no language without X'
Statistical universals: all language have X in the sense of 'there is a strong tendency for
langauges to have X'
- Not compatible with the notion of innateness and UG
So-called typological studies (studies that cover large numbers of languages) focus on
overt universals and usually are expressed as tendencies; they do not rely on 'deep'
theoretical analysis.
Overt universals....
- Based on surveys of large numbers of languages (corpus or data-driven)
- So-called typological studies
- Focus on shallow, observable, measurable properties of utterances
- Theory-independent
- Have a statistical flavor (Often stated as "tendencies")
Theoretical linguistics focuses on covert universals i.e. properties of the mental
grammar; they dependent on theoretical models of the mental grammar
Covert Universals...
- Are based on a smaller number of language (because it takes a lot of time to analyze a
language)
- Focus on hidden properties (properties of the mental grammar)
- Are theory-dependent
- May not be very clearly reflected in the surface due to 'noise' (e.g. due to language
use factors)
- Have a NON-statistical flavor (Often stated as "laws" or "'principles")
, The nature and nurture of universals typological studies side with the nurture view in that
there is no reliance on innate properties of language. Theoretical studies side with the nature
view in that they assert that the mental grammar is based on an innate 'template'.
Nature view: 'true' language universals are due to an innate system. Children do not need to
learn them
Nurture view: language 'universals' are mere tendencies that reflect general factors (see:
'alternative explanations'). Whatever language comes to look like due to these forces,
children have a general capacity to learn them.
What is meant by saying that the transmission of the mental grammar is indirect?
Utterances
UG -> mental grammar > utterances
...............UG -> mental grammar > utterances
etc.
Mention three ways in which one can collect data about language development
longitudinal
cross-sectional
diary studies
longitudinal
|------------------------------------------------------------------------| (one child)
1.5 3.5
Cross-sectional study
WITH DETAILED VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
Define types of language-specific universals such as:
Unconditional (absolute) universal
Implicational universal
Disjunctive universal
Unconditional (absolute) universal
all languages have A
Implicational universal
if a language has A it also has B (example: superlative implies comparative affix)
Disjunctive universal
a language has either A or B (aka parameters)
Parameters capture that the differences between languages are limited
Parameters are innate (nature) but their setting depends on language input (nurture)
- Two things children need to learn from
environment -- Lexicon
-- Set the parameters
Parameters universals that give you a choice and allow languages to differ to some extent
- Disjunctive universals
,Universals can be absolute or statistical i.e. tendencies that hold for a lot of languages, but
not for all
Absolute universals: all languages have X in the sense of 'there is no language without X'
Statistical universals: all language have X in the sense of 'there is a strong tendency for
langauges to have X'
- Not compatible with the notion of innateness and UG
So-called typological studies (studies that cover large numbers of languages) focus on
overt universals and usually are expressed as tendencies; they do not rely on 'deep'
theoretical analysis.
Overt universals....
- Based on surveys of large numbers of languages (corpus or data-driven)
- So-called typological studies
- Focus on shallow, observable, measurable properties of utterances
- Theory-independent
- Have a statistical flavor (Often stated as "tendencies")
Theoretical linguistics focuses on covert universals i.e. properties of the mental
grammar; they dependent on theoretical models of the mental grammar
Covert Universals...
- Are based on a smaller number of language (because it takes a lot of time to analyze a
language)
- Focus on hidden properties (properties of the mental grammar)
- Are theory-dependent
- May not be very clearly reflected in the surface due to 'noise' (e.g. due to language
use factors)
- Have a NON-statistical flavor (Often stated as "laws" or "'principles")
, The nature and nurture of universals typological studies side with the nurture view in that
there is no reliance on innate properties of language. Theoretical studies side with the nature
view in that they assert that the mental grammar is based on an innate 'template'.
Nature view: 'true' language universals are due to an innate system. Children do not need to
learn them
Nurture view: language 'universals' are mere tendencies that reflect general factors (see:
'alternative explanations'). Whatever language comes to look like due to these forces,
children have a general capacity to learn them.
What is meant by saying that the transmission of the mental grammar is indirect?
Utterances
UG -> mental grammar > utterances
...............UG -> mental grammar > utterances
etc.
Mention three ways in which one can collect data about language development
longitudinal
cross-sectional
diary studies
longitudinal
|------------------------------------------------------------------------| (one child)
1.5 3.5
Cross-sectional study
