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. 2013 Sep 3;8(9):e72357.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072357. eCollection 2013.

Entangled parametric hierarchies: problems for an overspecified universal grammar

Cedric Boeckx  1 , Evelina Leivada
Affiliations

Entangled parametric hierarchies: problems for an overspecified universal grammar

Cedric Boeckx et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

This study addresses the feasibility of the classical notion of parameter in linguistic theory from the perspective of parametric hierarchies. A novel program-based analysis is implemented in order to show certain empirical problems related to these hierarchies. The program was developed on the basis of an enriched data base spanning 23 contemporary and 5 ancient languages. The empirical issues uncovered cast doubt on classical parametric models of language acquisition as well as on the conceptualization of an overspecified Universal Grammar that has parameters among its primitives. Pinpointing these issues leads to the proposal that (i) the (bio)logical problem of language acquisition does not amount to a process of triggering innately pre-wired values of parameters and (ii) it paves the way for viewing language, epigenetic ('parametric') variation as an externalization-related epiphenomenon, whose learning component may be more important than what sometimes is assumed.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. An example of parametric hierarchies .
Figure 2
Figure 2. Parametric hierarchies in the nominal domain , .
Figure 3
Figure 3. Settable dependent parameters across languages.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Example of program output for parameter 10.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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