Universal Grammar, proposed by Noam Chomsky, suggests all humans have innate linguistic knowledge. This theory explains rapid language acquisition in children and similarities across diverse languages, encompassing principles and parameters that shape language structure.

Language universals can be absolute (present in all languages) or statistical (common but with exceptions). Evidence for these universals comes from structural similarities, child language acquisition patterns, and features in newly developed languages, though challenges and diversity complicate universal claims.

Universal Grammar and Language Universals

Concept of universal grammar

• Universal Grammar (UG) postulates innate linguistic knowledge present in all humans proposed by Noam Chomsky in 1950s
• Key components of UG encompass principles (universal rules applicable to all languages) and parameters (language-specific variations within principles)
• UG explains rapid language acquisition in children accounts for similarities across diverse languages provides framework for understanding language structure
• UG facilitates first language acquisition influences second language acquisition theories

Absolute vs statistical universals

• Absolute universals features present in all known languages without exception (all languages have consonants and vowels, nouns and verbs)
• Statistical universals features common to most languages but with some exceptions also called tendencies or near-universals (most languages have nasal consonants, Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order is most common)
• Implicational universals if a language has feature X, it will also have feature Y (if a language has dual number, it also has plural)

Evidence for language universals

• Structural similarities across unrelated languages support language universals
• Consistent patterns in child language acquisition reinforce universal grammar theory
• Recurring features in newly developed languages (creoles) provide evidence for universals
• Challenges arise from languages violating proposed universals (Pirahã language challenges recursion as a universal)
• Diversity in grammatical structures across languages complicates universal claims
• Methodological considerations include sample size and representativeness in cross-linguistic studies
• Case studies like sign languages support certain modality-independent universals

Universals and language faculty

• Human language faculty comprises cognitive capacity for language acquisition and use possibly localized in specific brain regions (Broca's area)
• Language universals potentially reflect cognitive constraints suggesting common neural basis for shared features across languages
• Biological foundations include genetic factors influencing language ability evolution of human vocal tract and neural structures
• Implications for language origin theories debate monogenesis vs polygenesis of language and gradual evolution vs sudden emergence of language faculty
• Interdisciplinary perspectives draw contributions from neuroscience and cognitive psychology insights from comparative studies with non-human primates