Universal Grammar

Noam Chomsky is credited with developing a theory referred to as Universal Grammar. Universal Grammar is the belief that all languages have at least some common elements. An example of Universal Grammar is as such: if a language has a word for cat, it will also have one for dog.

Chomsky asserts that the brain has a certain number of reflexes or processes that limits the way in which the brain organizes language. Therefore, there are only a certain number of results which translate into commonality in various languages.

Pinker discusses Noam Chomsky, the linguist who discovered the intricacy of the language system and is often thought of as the person who is most responsible for the modern revolution in cognitive science and modern language. Chomsky pointed out that there are two fundamental facts about language. 1. Every sentence spoken is a new combination of words. 2. Children develop...