PSYC 2110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Noam Chomsky, Transformational Grammar, Deep Structure And Surface Structure
19 Jan 2016
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Document Summary
Claims that language acquisition must have a biological. It occurs during a period of development when cognitive skills are relatively immature. Opposed to conditioning basis of language development: children are not explicitly reinforced for language production of accuracy, imitation would require exposure to accurate models of language. Adults do not regularly use accurate language. Children produce language sequences that have never been modelled: rules of language (grammar) are not explicitly taught. Two structures: surface structure rules that determine how words and phrases are arranged in a particular language. Ii) deep structure inborn rules that underlie all language. Transformational grammar translate surface structure to deep structure. Every sentence has a noun phrase and a verb phrase which can be broken down into further components. Language consists of a set of rules. Ex: the man will hit the ball. Children have innate knowledge of these universal rules. Language acquisition is not simply the obtainment of a set of rules.
