Chomsky’s Modularity Hypothesis – Is There an Innate Language Module?

Seminar Paper , 2012 , 15 Pages , Grade: 1,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics

This term paper deals with Noam Chomsky’s Modularity or rather Innateness Hypothesis, particularly with the question if there might be an innate language module in people’s minds. To discuss and maybe answer this question, I will first give a short summary of the Modularity Hypothesis as found in works of Chomsky and also of Jerry Fodor. After that, I will summarize Chomsky’s theory of innateness, in connection with his belief that there exists a “Universal Grammar”, which is responsible for people’s ability to acquire language.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Chomsky’s Innateness
2.1 Modularity of Mind
2.2 The Innateness Hypothesis
2.3 Universal Grammar

3. Arguments Pro and Contra the Innateness Hypothesis
3.1 Pro
3.1.1 Noam Chomsky
3.1.2 Steven Pinker
3.2 Contra
3.2.1 Hilary Putnam
3.2.2 Danny Steinberg and Natalia Sciarini
3.2.3 Michael Tomasello

4. Other Models of Language Acquisition
4.1 Behaviorism
4.2 Cognistivism
4.3 Social Interactionist Theory

5. Summary and Conclusion

6. Literature

• College: RWTH Aachen University (Institut für Anglistik der RWTH Aachen)
• Course: Proseminar Language Acquisition
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Gabriele Grenkowski (Author)
• Publication Year: 2012
• Pages: 15
• Catalog Number: V190072
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656145837
• ISBN (Book): 9783656145998
• Language: English
• Tags: chomsky’s, modularity, hypothesis, there, innate, language, module, innateness, noam chomsky, steven pinker, michael tomasello, language acqusition