Child language acquisition: Why universal grammar doesn't help

Ambridge, B ORCID: 0000-0003-2389-8477, Pine, JM ORCID: 0000-0002-7077-9713 and Lieven, EVM (2014) Child language acquisition: Why universal grammar doesn't help Language, 90 (3). e53-e90. ISSN 0097-8507, 1535-0665

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Abstract

In many different domains of language acquisition, there exists an apparent learnability problem to which innate knowledge of some aspect of universal grammar (UG) has been proposed as a solution. The present article reviews these proposals in the core domains of (i) identifying syntactic categories, (ii) acquiring basic morphosyntax, (iii) structure dependence, (iv) subjacency, and (v) the binding principles. We conclude that, in each of these domains, the innate UGspecified knowledge posited does not, in fact, simplify the task facing the learner. © 2014.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	binding principles, child language acquisition, frequent frames, parameter setting, prosodic bootstrapping, semantic bootstrapping, structure dependence, subjacency, syntax, morphosyntax, universal grammar
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	05 Feb 2015 16:36
Last Modified:	01 Mar 2026 08:04
DOI:	10.1353/lan.2014.0051
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/2002246
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