1. Universal Grammar
1. 800 years ago Roger Bacon said, “All languages are built upon a common grammar”.
2. 13 century – Speculative Grammarian said that there is a Core Grammar (Genetic Makeup)
All types of language are originated from the single language.
Children says noun first.
3. Modern Times
a. Edward Sapic
b. Richard Montague
c. Noam Chomksey (1928-….) Linguist, Politician, Philosopher.
Main Works
i) Generative Grammar
ii) Innate Theory
iii) Mentalistic Approach
iv) Universal Grammar became famous.
Syntactic Structure 1957
Pisa Lectures 1979
LGB (Lectures on Government and binding 1981
Minimalist Program 1995
Principle (Similar) and Parameter (Different)
Principle:- all the languages cover same systems/ rules. E.g. Noun Phrase, Verb Phrase,
Preposition Phrase.
Parameter:- how languages are different from each other.
English Head 1st language.
Old man (NP)
In the Moon (Preposition Phrase)
Shot the Elephant (Verb Phrase)
Japanese head Last language.
Nihon Ni (Japan in)
Language
Principle Parameter
Head Complement Head First Head Last
Non Pro-drop
Pro-drop Language.
Language
Universal Grammar

2. Universal Grammar is a black box responsible for language acquisition. It is a mechanism that allows the
children to construct their own grammar out of the language material supplied by the portents.
Language is a system of rules, Principles responsible for the language acquisition.
Traditional Grammar= Parts of Speech + Syntax
Universal Grammar = Principles (Rules) and Parameters
UG is like Smiling, weeping, etc.
1. Structural Dependency.
Language is organized in such away that it crucially depends upon the structural relationship of
the elements in the sentence instead of their linear sequence.
e.g.
Your cat is friendly.
1. Your 2.cat 3.is 4. Friendly.
3 is 1.your 2 cat 4 friendly?
The cat who is friendly is ginger.
Make its Interrogative. Not easy to make its interrogative.
Phrase Structure (P.S):-
The child drew an elephant.
S
NP VP
The Child V NP
Drew an Elephant
REWRITE RULES
S Consists of Noun Phrase + Verb Phrase
VP consists of Verb + Noun Phrase.
{NP The Child}………….]
2. LANGUAGE FACULTY:-
Human mind has separate parts for language acquisition and it differs with the learning of other
things.
Left Ear Upper Portion = Broca’s Area = Language Production.
Left Ear Back Portion = Wernic’s area = Language comprehending
DISEASES.

3. Aphasia = the loss of the ability to understand or produce speech, because of brain
damage
Dysphasia
Dysarthria
Dementia= a serious mental disorder caused by brain disease or injury, that affects the ability
to think, remember and behave normally
see also SENILEDEMENTIA
Dysprosody (after World War II, this disease spread, like laughing at death, no sensibility
of situations)
Genotype:-the particular type and arrangement of genes that each organism has
Phenotype:-the physical characteristics of something living, especially those characteristics
which can be seen
3. PROJECTIONS PRINCIPLE