LING 1010 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
Distinguish between HIDDEN and OVERT universals
HIDDEN universals: the organization and the workings of the mental grammar.
OVERT universals: Properties of the actual language utterances (the output of the
mental grammar)
Overt universals
Descriptive\Observable Universals
-The properties of utterances which are observable
-Based on surveys of large numbers of languages -
So-called typological studies
-Focus on shallow, observable, measurable properties of utterances.
-Theory-independent
-Have a statistical flavor (Often stated as "tendencies")
Hidden universals
Theoretical\Covert Universals
-Mental Grammar
-Based on a smaller number of language
-Focus on hidden properties (properties of MG)
-Theory Dependent
-No statistical flavor
The relationship of Overt and Covert universals
-Covert universals are reflected in the overt universals, but often not perfectly.
-Overt universals may be reflections of other factors that determine the shape of
language(the environment or general aspects of human biology)
, Why Empiricists say that the idea of language Universals is a "myth "
Because Alleged Covert Universals are threat by the existence of the Functional explanations.
What Chomsky recently proposed about language-unique universals.
There may be only very few language-unique universals that are good candidates for being
"Built-in"
-The Examplke is the property of RECURSION(递归，循环).
Principles
Universals of Language
Properties that are built in
(Properties that a child does not have to learn)
Parameters
Disjunctive Universals
(These are properties where the child has to make a choice between two options) (Parameters
are like 'Switches')
How Child make Parameter choice?
Based on the input that they are exposed to.
Basic Word Order
An example of a parametric choice.
Verb-object - English
Object-verb - Japanese
Initial word stress - Iceland
Final word stress - Turkish
What answer the Parameter setting give to Nature/Nurture Question?
The Parameter themselves are innate(Nature), but the choice is Nurture.
DETAILED VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
Distinguish between HIDDEN and OVERT universals
HIDDEN universals: the organization and the workings of the mental grammar.
OVERT universals: Properties of the actual language utterances (the output of the
mental grammar)
Overt universals
Descriptive\Observable Universals
-The properties of utterances which are observable
-Based on surveys of large numbers of languages -
So-called typological studies
-Focus on shallow, observable, measurable properties of utterances.
-Theory-independent
-Have a statistical flavor (Often stated as "tendencies")
Hidden universals
Theoretical\Covert Universals
-Mental Grammar
-Based on a smaller number of language
-Focus on hidden properties (properties of MG)
-Theory Dependent
-No statistical flavor
The relationship of Overt and Covert universals
-Covert universals are reflected in the overt universals, but often not perfectly.
-Overt universals may be reflections of other factors that determine the shape of
language(the environment or general aspects of human biology)
, Why Empiricists say that the idea of language Universals is a "myth "
Because Alleged Covert Universals are threat by the existence of the Functional explanations.
What Chomsky recently proposed about language-unique universals.
There may be only very few language-unique universals that are good candidates for being
"Built-in"
-The Examplke is the property of RECURSION(递归，循环).
Principles
Universals of Language
Properties that are built in
(Properties that a child does not have to learn)
Parameters
Disjunctive Universals
(These are properties where the child has to make a choice between two options) (Parameters
are like 'Switches')
How Child make Parameter choice?
Based on the input that they are exposed to.
Basic Word Order
An example of a parametric choice.
Verb-object - English
Object-verb - Japanese
Initial word stress - Iceland
Final word stress - Turkish
What answer the Parameter setting give to Nature/Nurture Question?
The Parameter themselves are innate(Nature), but the choice is Nurture.
