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Subtle Implicit Language Facts Emerge from the Functions of Constructions.

Adele E Goldberg¹

¹Department of Psychology, Princeton University Princeton, NJ, USA.

Frontiers in Psychology

|February 10, 2016

Summary

This study challenges the Universal Grammar hypothesis, arguing that complex linguistic knowledge arises from functional motivations, not innate structures. It re-examines subtle language facts, showing they are better explained by usage than by an inborn grammar.

Keywords:

anaphoric one grammatical constructions island constraints subject-auxiliary inversion universal grammar

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Area of Science:

Linguistics
Cognitive Science
Psycholinguistics

Background:

The Universal Grammar hypothesis posits innate, language-specific knowledge.
Critics argue Universal Grammar is biologically implausible and unnecessary for language acquisition.
Previous critiques often overlook subtle linguistic phenomena cited as evidence for Universal Grammar.

Purpose of the Study:

To re-evaluate specific linguistic facts used to support the Universal Grammar Hypothesis.
To demonstrate that these phenomena are not adequately explained by Universal Grammar.
To propose an alternative explanation based on functional motivations.

Main Methods:

Analysis of specific linguistic constructions.
Examination of implicit linguistic knowledge in speakers.
Comparison of Universal Grammar explanations with functional explanations.

Main Results:

The discussed linguistic facts are more complex than commonly understood.
Appeals to Universal Grammar do not adequately explain the observed phenomena.
The distribution and interpretation of anaphoric 'one' and constraints on long-distance dependencies are functionally motivated.

Conclusions:

The Universal Grammar Hypothesis is insufficient to explain subtle linguistic knowledge.
Functional pressures on language construction provide a more compelling explanation.
Linguistic complexity arises from the communicative functions of language structures.