Factors 2 and 3 : towards a principled approach
Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona & Institut Interuniversitari de Filologia Valenciana
Abstract
This paper seeks to make progress in our understanding of the non-UG components of Chomsky’s
(2005) Three Factors model. In relation to the input (Factor 2), I argue for the need to formulate
a suitably precise hypothesis about which aspects of the input will qualify as ‘intake’ and,
hence, serve as the basis for grammar construction. In relation to Factor 3, I highlight a specific
cognitive bias that appears well motivated outside of language, while also having wide-ranging
consequences for our understanding of how I-language grammars are constructed, and why they
should have the crosslinguistically comparable form that generativists have always argued human
languages have. This is Maximise Minimal Means (MMM). I demonstrate how its incorporation
into our model of grammar acquisition facilitates understanding of diverse facts about natural
language typology, acquisition, both in “stable” and “unstable” contexts, and also the ways in
which linguistic systems may change over time.
Description
CITATION: Biberauer, T. 2019. Factors 2 and 3 : towards a principled approach. Catalan Journal of Linguistics, 2019:45-88, doi:10.5565/rev/catjl.219.
The original publication is available at https://revistes.uab.cat/catJL
The original publication is available at https://revistes.uab.cat/catJL
Keywords
Universal grammar, Crosslinguistic variation, Grammar, Comparative and general -- Syntax, Language acquisition, Minimalist theory (Linguistics)
Citation
Biberauer, T. 2019. Factors 2 and 3 : towards a principled approach. Catalan Journal of Linguistics, 2019:45-88, doi:10.5565/rev/catjl.219