Have you ever noticed how babies, or when you were a baby, regardless of where they are born or the language spoken around them, they seem to effortlessly pick up the language(s)? 

Children seem to universally absorb the fundamental aspects of their language even without any formal instruction. This obviously intrigued linguists for many years, resulting in some theories. One of the most interesting theories out there to explain this innate ability is Universal Grammar (UG). And if you are interested in taking the linguistics minor in English Language and Literature, this theory is very important to learn!

What is Universal Grammar (UG)? 

It is a theory developed by a linguist called Noam Chomsky. He was a linguist, philosopher, and cognitive scientist who was born in 1928. His work has influenced a lot of fields such as linguistics, computer science, and psychology. The basic concept of Universal Grammar is that all humans are born with an innate ability to understand grammatical rules and language structures provided within their brains since they were born. In other words, we are born with a pre-equipped natural aptitude for language acquisition, and this innate ability is consistent within every single human being, no matter what language they speak.

Is there any supporting evidence for this theory? 

Yes, there is several supporting evidence for this theory. One of them is how children seem to learn a language at a rapid pace. They demonstrate an extraordinary ability to learn a complex language swiftly, despite minimal instruction or formal education. Another evidence is the underlying linguistic similarities in languages, despite its obvious diversity. A striking similarity seems to exist in their core grammatical structures. Children also showed consistent error patterns in language acquisition, making it another supporting evidence for this theory. This suggests an internal rule set within languages. 

Critical Period Hypothesis

There is another theory that is often discussed in relation to UG, which is the Critical Period Hypothesis. It suggests that there is a specific period during which language acquisition is easiest and most successful, which is early childhood. After this period, learning a new language becomes more challenging and often results in less native-like proficiency. 

This theory clarifies why children are capable of mastering any language they are exposed to within a critical period. However, it is important to know that UG still remains a theory. Some still argue that language acquisition can be explained through a general learning mechanism and language exposure without needing a “grammar module” in the brain. Nevertheless, UG continues to be an important concept in linguistics. 

Conclusion: Why is Universal Grammar Important?

Universal Grammar is a hypothesis that all humans possess a capacity for language acquisition since they were born, thanks to universal grammatical principles shared by all languages. Even though it is still a theory, it provides an entrancing explanation for the language learning capabilities in humans from an early age.

References:

Saville-Troike, Muriel. Introducing Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge University Press, 2012.