Entangled parametric hierarchies: problems for an overspecified universal grammar.
This study addresses the feasibility of the classical notion of parameter in linguistic theory from the perspective of parametric hierarchies. A novel program-based analysis is implemented in order to show certain empirical problems related to these hierarchies. The program was developed on the basi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2013-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3760868?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818518933687238656 |
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| author | Cedric Boeckx Evelina Leivada |
| author_facet | Cedric Boeckx Evelina Leivada |
| author_sort | Cedric Boeckx |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study addresses the feasibility of the classical notion of parameter in linguistic theory from the perspective of parametric hierarchies. A novel program-based analysis is implemented in order to show certain empirical problems related to these hierarchies. The program was developed on the basis of an enriched data base spanning 23 contemporary and 5 ancient languages. The empirical issues uncovered cast doubt on classical parametric models of language acquisition as well as on the conceptualization of an overspecified Universal Grammar that has parameters among its primitives. Pinpointing these issues leads to the proposal that (i) the (bio)logical problem of language acquisition does not amount to a process of triggering innately pre-wired values of parameters and (ii) it paves the way for viewing language, epigenetic ('parametric') variation as an externalization-related epiphenomenon, whose learning component may be more important than what sometimes is assumed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T01:17:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c18ffa2ed61e4a919e411ae48af6ba97 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T01:17:03Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-c18ffa2ed61e4a919e411ae48af6ba972022-12-22T01:25:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0189e7235710.1371/journal.pone.0072357Entangled parametric hierarchies: problems for an overspecified universal grammar.Cedric BoeckxEvelina LeivadaThis study addresses the feasibility of the classical notion of parameter in linguistic theory from the perspective of parametric hierarchies. A novel program-based analysis is implemented in order to show certain empirical problems related to these hierarchies. The program was developed on the basis of an enriched data base spanning 23 contemporary and 5 ancient languages. The empirical issues uncovered cast doubt on classical parametric models of language acquisition as well as on the conceptualization of an overspecified Universal Grammar that has parameters among its primitives. Pinpointing these issues leads to the proposal that (i) the (bio)logical problem of language acquisition does not amount to a process of triggering innately pre-wired values of parameters and (ii) it paves the way for viewing language, epigenetic ('parametric') variation as an externalization-related epiphenomenon, whose learning component may be more important than what sometimes is assumed.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3760868?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Cedric Boeckx Evelina Leivada Entangled parametric hierarchies: problems for an overspecified universal grammar. PLoS ONE |
| title | Entangled parametric hierarchies: problems for an overspecified universal grammar. |
| title_full | Entangled parametric hierarchies: problems for an overspecified universal grammar. |
| title_fullStr | Entangled parametric hierarchies: problems for an overspecified universal grammar. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Entangled parametric hierarchies: problems for an overspecified universal grammar. |
| title_short | Entangled parametric hierarchies: problems for an overspecified universal grammar. |
| title_sort | entangled parametric hierarchies problems for an overspecified universal grammar |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3760868?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cedricboeckx entangledparametrichierarchiesproblemsforanoverspecifieduniversalgrammar AT evelinaleivada entangledparametrichierarchiesproblemsforanoverspecifieduniversalgrammar |