Language evolution as a constraint on conceptions of a minimalist language faculty
Language appears to be special. Well-rehearsed arguments that appeal to aspects of language acquisition, psycholinguistic processing and linguistic universals all suggest that language has certain properties that distinguish it from other domain general capacities. The most widely discussed theory of an innate, modular, domain specific language faculty is Chomskyan generative grammar (CGG) in its various guises. However, an examination of the history and development of CGG reveals a constant tension in the relationship of syntax, phonology and semantics that has endured up to, and fatally undermines, the latest manifestation of the theory: the Minimalist Program. Evidence from language evolution can be deployed to arrive at a more coherent understanding of the nature of the human faculty for language. I suggest that all current theories can be classed on the basis of two binary distinctions: firstly, that between nativist and non-nativist accounts, and secondly between hypotheses that rely on a sudden explanation for the origins of language and those that rely on a gradual, incremental picture. All four consequent possibilities have serious flaws. By scrutinising the extant cross-disciplinary data on the evolution
Feeney, Andrew Stephe
Language evolution as a constraint on conceptions of a minimalist language faculty. Language appears to be special. Well-rehearsed arguments that appeal to aspects of language acquisition, psycholinguistic processing and linguistic universals all suggest that language has certain properties that distinguish it from other domain general capacities. The most widely discussed theory of an innate, modular, domain specific language faculty is Chomskyan generative grammar (CGG) in its various guises. However, an examination of the history and development of CGG reveals a constant tension in the relationship of syntax, phonology and semantics that has endured up to, and fatally undermines, the latest manifestation of the theory: the Minimalist Program. Evidence from language evolution can be deployed to arrive at a more coherent understanding of the nature of the human faculty for language. I suggest that all current theories can be classed on the basis of two binary distinctions: firstly, that between nativist and non-nativist accounts, and secondly between hypotheses that rely on a sudden explanation for the origins of language and those that rely on a gradual, incremental picture. All four consequent possibilities have serious flaws. By scrutinising the extant cross-disciplinary data on the evolution
language_evolution constraint conception minimalist language_faculty language appear special well rehearsed argument appeal aspect language_acquisition psycholinguistic processing linguistic universal suggest language certain property distinguish domain general capacity widely_discuss theory innate modular domain_specific language_faculty chomskyan generative_grammar various guise however examination history development reveals constant tension relationship syntax phonology semantics endure undermines late manifestation theory minimalist_program evidence language_evolution deploy arrive coherent nature human faculty language suggest current_theory class basis binary distinction firstly nativist non nativist account secondly hypotheses rely sudden explanation origin language rely gradual incremental picture consequent possibility serious flaw scrutinise extant cross_disciplinary data evolution