Parameters

Definition

Parameters are the specific rules or constraints that define the options available within a language, shaping how universal grammar can manifest in different languages. They help linguists understand variations among languages by indicating which grammatical features can change while still adhering to a universal framework. This concept is essential for studying language universals, as it highlights how languages can be alike in fundamental ways yet differ in particular aspects.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Parameters allow for a finite set of options in language structure, enabling diverse grammatical systems within the constraints of universal grammar.
2. Languages can differ significantly based on how certain parameters are set, such as word order or agreement rules.
3. Parameters can often be binary, meaning they have two possible settings, like whether a language uses a subject-verb-object (SVO) or verb-subject-object (VSO) order.
4. The concept of parameters is crucial for understanding language acquisition, as children learn to set parameters based on their exposure to their native language.
5. Different languages can exemplify the same parameter settings while still exhibiting unique features that highlight the diversity of human language.

Review Questions

• How do parameters contribute to the understanding of linguistic diversity among languages?
  • Parameters play a critical role in explaining linguistic diversity because they establish specific rules that can vary across languages while still conforming to the principles of universal grammar. By examining how different languages set their parameters, linguists can identify patterns of variation and commonalities among them. This understanding helps clarify why some languages share features while others diverge significantly, illustrating both the unity and diversity of human languages.
• Discuss the implications of parameter setting for first language acquisition in children.
  • Parameter setting has significant implications for first language acquisition because it reflects how children learn and internalize the specific rules of their native language. As children are exposed to linguistic input, they adjust their parameters based on this input, allowing them to conform to the grammatical structures of their environment. This dynamic process emphasizes the interaction between innate linguistic knowledge and external linguistic exposure, showcasing how children navigate the complexities of grammar during their developmental years.
• Evaluate how the concept of parameters challenges traditional views of language universals in linguistics.
  • The concept of parameters challenges traditional views of language universals by suggesting that while all languages may share underlying principles, they also exhibit significant variability due to individual parameter settings. This perspective moves away from the notion that universals are fixed and instead proposes a model where universals are adaptable frameworks shaped by specific linguistic choices. By recognizing this flexibility, linguists can better understand how diverse languages emerge from a common grammatical foundation while still allowing for unique expressions and structures.

Related terms

Universal Grammar: A theory suggesting that the ability to acquire language is innate to humans, and all languages share a common structural foundation.

Language Universals: Features or characteristics that are common to all human languages, indicating underlying similarities despite surface differences.

Parameter Setting: The process by which language learners determine the specific values of parameters based on the linguistic input they receive, leading to the acquisition of their native language.