Learning-Theoretic Foundations of Linguistic Universals

Wexler, Kenneth; Culicover, Peter W.; Hamburger, H. J.

doi:10.1515/thli.1975.2.1-3.215

Cited by 53 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…From the discussion in sect. 6 it will become clear that the Freezing Principle of Wexler et al (1975), Culicover (1976) and Culicover/Wexler (1977) needs not be appealed to for this phenomenon. 7.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case Theory and the Dative Construction

Czepluch¹

1982

The Linguistic Review

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case Theory and the Dative Construction

Czepluch¹

1982

The Linguistic Review

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“…The reader may consult e.g., Antony (1991) and Chomsky (1988) for defenses of the linguist's view that to do linguistics is to do psychology; and Devitt and Sterelny (1989) and Soames (1984) for defenses of the opposing position. 19 See Hamburger and Wexler (1975), Wexler, Culicover and Hamburger (1975), Wexler and Culicover (1980). 20 This is clearly the moral Lightfoot draws from the work of Wexler et al Their model, he writes (1982, 35n), "specifies the boundary conditions for a theory of language-learning .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Logical Problem of Language Acquisition

Cowie¹

2003

What's Within?

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ABSTRACT. Arguments from the 'Logical Problem of Language Acquisition' suggest that since linguistic experience provides few negative data that would falsify overgeneral grammatical hypotheses, innate knowledge of the principles of Universal Grammar must constrain learners' hypothesis formulation. Although this argument indicates a need for domain-specific constraints, it does not support their innateness. Learning from mostly positive data proceeds unproblematically in virtually all domains. Since not every domain can plausibly be accorded its own special faculty, the probative value of the argument in the linguistic case is dubious. In ignoring the holistic and probablistic nature of theory construction, the argument underestimates the extent to which positive data can supply negative evidence and hence overestimates the intractability of language learning in the absence of a dedicated faculty. While nativism about language remains compelling, the alleged 'Logical Problem' contributes nothing to its plausibility and the emphasis on the Problem in the recent acquisition literature has been a mistake.

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“…Evans puts Klima's notion to use in straightforwardly characterizing when a pronoun is within the scope of (and hence bindable by) a quantifier expression. See also Wasow (1972), Wexler, Culicover and Hamburger (1974), and Culicover (1976). 82 Since mothers are female, there is no acceptable reading of (2).…”

Section: 'Binding' and 'Scope'mentioning

confidence: 99%