John Benjamins Publishing Company
Typological evidence and Universal Grammar
Abstract
The paper discusses the relevance of typological evidence for the construction of a theory of Universal Grammar (UG). After introducing UG-based approaches to typology, it goes on to argue that most typological generalizations are in no sense ‘knowledge of language’. In fact, some of the best-established typological generalizations have explanations based on language use, and so it is either empirically unmotivated or redundant to attempt to encompass them within UG theory. This conclusion is reinforced by a look at the widely-accepted Lexical Parameterization Hypothesis and by the current shift of interest to ‘microparameters’. The paper goes on to take a critical look at Mark Baker’s Parameter Hierarchy.
Abstract
The paper discusses the relevance of typological evidence for the construction of a theory of Universal Grammar (UG). After introducing UG-based approaches to typology, it goes on to argue that most typological generalizations are in no sense ‘knowledge of language’. In fact, some of the best-established typological generalizations have explanations based on language use, and so it is either empirically unmotivated or redundant to attempt to encompass them within UG theory. This conclusion is reinforced by a look at the widely-accepted Lexical Parameterization Hypothesis and by the current shift of interest to ‘microparameters’. The paper goes on to take a critical look at Mark Baker’s Parameter Hierarchy.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- What counts as evidence in linguistics? 1
- Typological evidence and Universal Grammar 51
- Remarks on the relation between language typology and Universal Grammar 75
- Does linguistic explanation presuppose linguistic description? 81
- Remarks on description and explanation in grammar 109
- Author’s response 113
- From UG to Universals 117
- Form, meaning and speakers in the evolution of language 139
- Author’s response 143
- Why assume UG? 147
- What kind of evidence could refute the UG hypothesis? 175
- Author’s response 179
- A question of relevance 181
- The Relevance of Variation 209
- Author’s response 215
- Universals, innateness and explanation in second language acquisition 217
- ‘Internal’ versus ‘external’ universals 241
- Author’s response 245
- What counts as evidence in historical linguistics? 249
- Abstraction and performance 283
- Author’s response 287
- Index 291
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- What counts as evidence in linguistics? 1
- Typological evidence and Universal Grammar 51
- Remarks on the relation between language typology and Universal Grammar 75
- Does linguistic explanation presuppose linguistic description? 81
- Remarks on description and explanation in grammar 109
- Author’s response 113
- From UG to Universals 117
- Form, meaning and speakers in the evolution of language 139
- Author’s response 143
- Why assume UG? 147
- What kind of evidence could refute the UG hypothesis? 175
- Author’s response 179
- A question of relevance 181
- The Relevance of Variation 209
- Author’s response 215
- Universals, innateness and explanation in second language acquisition 217
- ‘Internal’ versus ‘external’ universals 241
- Author’s response 245
- What counts as evidence in historical linguistics? 249
- Abstraction and performance 283
- Author’s response 287
- Index 291
