Noam Chomsky, Fundamental Issues in Linguistics (April 2019 at MIT) - Lecture 1

Abdessamia Bencheikh・2 minutes read

The speaker discusses foundational issues in linguistics, exploring the evolution of language from structuralist approaches to modern computational operations like merge and internal merge. They also delve into the principle of structure dependence in language acquisition, highlighting the brain's computational simplicity and resource restriction for computational efficiency.

Insights

  • The evolution of linguistic theories, from rational and universal grammar to x-bar theory, showcases a continuous quest for genuine explanations in linguistics, with a focus on internal generative systems and the separation of linear order from language.
  • The principle of structure dependence in language, evident from infancy and supported by neuro-linguistic studies, highlights the fundamental nature of this property independent of linear order, emphasizing the importance of internal merge and resource restriction in language computation.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of the I language?

    The I language is a concept that refers to language as an internal generative system specific to individuals and the species. It meets conditions of learnability and evolvability, highlighting the internal nature of language processing and acquisition. Understanding the I language is crucial in linguistics as it provides insights into how individuals develop and use language, emphasizing the internal cognitive processes involved in linguistic operations.

  • How does X-bar theory contribute to linguistic explanations?

    X-bar theory is a linguistic framework that separates linear order from internal language systems, focusing on the internal structure of language. It leads to a theory of parameters, highlighting differences in language choices between languages like Japanese and English. By emphasizing internal systems and structures, X-bar theory contributes to the ongoing quest for genuine explanations in linguistics by providing a framework to analyze and understand the internal workings of language.

  • What is the core principle of the minimalist program?

    The minimalist program in linguistics aims to achieve genuine explanations in language by starting with basic computational operations like merge. Merge, a binary set formation operation, is considered the most elementary computational operation necessary for language evolution and learnability. The core principle of the minimalist program is to simplify linguistic explanations by focusing on fundamental computational operations and internal language structures.

  • How does structure dependence impact language acquisition?

    Structure dependence in language refers to the principle that certain language operations are dependent on the structure of linguistic elements rather than linear order. Studies show that infants as young as 30 months old already observe structure dependence, indicating an innate ability to understand language structures. This principle plays a crucial role in language acquisition, highlighting the importance of internal language systems and cognitive processes in learning and using language effectively.

  • What role does resource restriction play in language computation?

    Resource restriction in language computation limits the accessibility of items during computation to prevent the generation of deviant expressions. This principle aligns with the broader concept of restricting resources for computational efficiency, reflecting the brain's tendency to discard excessive information for optimal functioning. By limiting resources in language processes, such as success of cyclic movement and minimal search, computational efficiency is enhanced, aiding in understanding language evolution and development.

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Summary

00:00

Evolution of Linguistic Theories: A Summary

  • The speaker aims to discuss foundational issues, focusing on fundamental computational operations in constructing syntactic objects and their significance.
  • Galileo and his contemporaries marveled at language's ability to express infinite thoughts using a limited set of sounds, recognizing the alphabet as a remarkable human invention.
  • The tradition of rational and universal grammar explored the commonalities among languages, seeking explanations for language's structure and development.
  • The 20th century saw a shift towards structuralist and behaviorist approaches to language, emphasizing external formulations over internal processes.
  • Yespersen's concept of structure in the mind laid the groundwork for understanding language as an internal generative system, known as the I language.
  • The I language is a property of individuals and the species-specific Faculty of language, meeting conditions of learnability and evolvability.
  • Genuine explanations in linguistics must satisfy conditions of learnability and evolvability, offering prospects for addressing the Galilean challenge.
  • Boscovich's paper on coordinate structure and adjunct island constraints illustrates attempts to simplify linguistic mysteries through coordination, though not providing full explanations.
  • Early generative grammar faced complexity in dealing with compositionality and dislocation, with later work suggesting dislocation as a primitive and expected linguistic operation.
  • The evolution of linguistic theories, from phrase structure grammar to x-bar theory, highlights the ongoing quest for genuine explanations in linguistics.

22:56

"X-bar theory and language complexity"

  • X-bar theory is a step towards separating linear order from language, focusing on internal systems.
  • X-bar theory leads to a theory of parameters, highlighting differences in language choices between Japanese and English.
  • X-bar theory necessitates a choice in externalizing internal systems, emphasizing the separation of linear order from internal language.
  • X-bar theory faces issues with excluding exocentric instructions, leading to the development of various artifices to address this limitation.
  • Labeling theory overcomes the problems of X-bar theory by providing principled guidelines for movement and internal merge.
  • The minimalist program aims to achieve genuine explanations in language by starting with basic computational operations like merge.
  • Merge, a binary set formation operation, is considered the most elementary computational operation necessary for language evolution and learnability.
  • The unification of internal and external merge simplifies the understanding of linguistic operations, emphasizing the importance of internal merge.
  • Externalization of internal systems through linear order is a complex process, involving the amalgamation of independent systems.
  • The core uniqueness of language may lie in externalization rather than language itself, suggesting that language complexity stems from externalization processes.

44:01

Structure Dependence in Language Acquisition

  • The syntactic and semantic rules in language do not consider all heard information or basic operations, leading to a puzzling fact.
  • The computational operation of the simplest merge operation forms the basis of the internal language, resulting in structure dependence for various language operations.
  • Studies show that infants as young as 30 months old already observe the principle of structure dependence, indicating an innate ability.
  • Neuro-linguistic studies reveal brain activity differences when subjects are presented with language rules versus linear order, supporting the concept of structure dependence.
  • Individuals with limited cognitive capacities but strong linguistic abilities demonstrate the importance of structure dependence in language acquisition.
  • Recurrent neural networks analyzing language structures do not support the idea that children use structure dependence at a young age.
  • The principle of structure dependence in language is a fundamental property that is independent of linear order and arrangement.
  • The operation of merge in language construction requires a workspace for constructing separate elements before merging them.
  • Resource restriction in recursion limits the accessibility of items during computation to prevent the generation of deviant expressions.
  • The simplicity of assumptions in language computation aligns with the principle that nature favors simplicity in explanations, aiding in understanding language evolution and development.

01:07:08

"Human Evolution and Language Development Insights"

  • Genomic evidence suggests that Homo sapiens began to separate roughly 200,000 years ago, leading to the distinct Sun people in Africa with unique forms of externalization, particularly complex click systems in their languages.
  • Around 200,000 years ago, humans began to separate, sharing the Faculty of language, with no known group differences in language capacity, but showing a different form of externalization that developed later.
  • Anatomically modern humans, Homo sapiens, emerged roughly 250,000 years ago, with language seemingly emerging simultaneously, supported by rich symbolic activity and complex social structures post-Homo sapiens appearance.
  • The computational simplicity of the brain is highlighted, with evidence suggesting that neural nets may not be the core computational element, and computation potentially occurring at the molecular level or within structures internal to neurons.
  • The brain's computational systems are proposed to be a third factor property, distinct from neural nets, with computational efficiency being a key principle, possibly related to minimal searches and resource limitation.
  • Limiting accessibility in language processes, such as success of cyclic movement and minimal search, showcases a broader general principle of restricting resources for computational efficiency, akin to the brain's tendency to discard excessive information in sensory systems.
  • Language acquisition in infants involves discarding vast amounts of information to converge on a limited set, reflecting the brain's constant loss of neurons to maintain essential functions and aligning with the concept of resource limitation in cognitive development.
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