An Evaluation of Universal Grammar and the Phonological Mind1 Article Swipe

PDF

Related Concepts

Phonology Universal grammar Grammar Linguistics Recursion (computer science) Generative grammar Psychology Cognitive science Computer science Philosophy Programming language

Daniel L. Everett ·

YOU? · · 2016 · Open Access · · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00015 · OA: W2271811510

This paper argues against the hypothesis of a "phonological mind" advanced by Berent. It establishes that there is no evidence that phonology is innate and that, in fact, the simplest hypothesis seems to be that phonology is learned like other human abilities. Moreover, the paper fleshes out the original claim of Philip Lieberman that Universal Grammar predicts that not everyone should be able to learn every language, i.e., the opposite of what UG is normally thought to predict. The paper also underscores the problem that the absence of recursion in Pirahã represents for Universal Grammar proposals.