Principles and Parameters

Definition

Principles and parameters is a framework in linguistics that posits that all human languages share a set of universal principles while allowing for variations through specific parameters. This model suggests that children are born with an innate understanding of these principles, enabling them to rapidly acquire their native language by adjusting parameters based on linguistic input from their environment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The principles aspect includes rules common across all languages, such as syntax and morphology, while parameters are specific choices that vary between languages.
2. Children acquire language quickly due to their ability to access universal principles while fine-tuning parameters based on their exposure to a particular language.
3. This theory emphasizes the role of nature in language acquisition, suggesting that linguistic capabilities are hard-wired into the brain.
4. Parameters can include factors like word order (e.g., subject-verb-object vs. verb-subject-object) and agreement rules, leading to the diversity seen in world languages.
5. Research in principles and parameters has influenced various fields, including cognitive science, psycholinguistics, and artificial intelligence, by exploring how language is processed and learned.

Review Questions

• How do principles and parameters contribute to our understanding of language acquisition in children?
  • Principles and parameters provide a framework for understanding how children learn language by suggesting they have innate knowledge of universal grammatical rules. As they are exposed to their native language, they adjust the parameters according to the specific input they receive. This combination allows children to quickly master complex linguistic structures, demonstrating the balance between innate capabilities and environmental influence in language development.
• In what ways do the concepts of Universal Grammar and the Language Acquisition Device relate to the principles and parameters framework?
  • Universal Grammar posits that there is an inherent set of grammatical rules shared by all humans, which is closely related to the principles aspect of the principles and parameters framework. The Language Acquisition Device supports this theory by suggesting that humans are biologically equipped to acquire language. Together, these concepts underscore the belief that children use both their innate knowledge (universal principles) and adapt to specific linguistic features (parameters) from their environment when learning a language.
• Evaluate how the principles and parameters model can explain linguistic diversity across different languages and cultures.
  • The principles and parameters model effectively explains linguistic diversity by asserting that while all languages share fundamental grammatical principles, they differ through specific parameters. These parameters can lead to varying syntactic structures, phonetic systems, and morphological rules across languages. By analyzing these differences within a unified framework, researchers can understand how distinct languages evolve while still adhering to shared underlying grammatical foundations. This evaluation highlights the interplay between universal traits and cultural uniqueness in shaping human communication.

Related terms

Universal Grammar:

The theory that proposes the existence of an innate grammatical structure shared by all humans, forming the basis for language acquisition.

Language Acquisition Device (LAD): A hypothetical mental capacity that enables infants to acquire language naturally, proposed by Noam Chomsky as part of his theories on language development.

Input Hypothesis:

The idea that language acquisition occurs when learners are exposed to language input that is slightly above their current level of competence, facilitating learning and comprehension.