Language: a Uniquely Human Instinct

Language: A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct Language: Plausibility Evidence: A Uniquely Human Instinct Language and Other Instincts

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Course Readings A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Evidence: The following readings have been posted to the Moodle Language and course site: Other Instincts Evidence: I Language Instinct: Chapter 2 (pp. 12-43) Independence from Intelligence

I Language Files: Chapter 8 (pp. 311-315) Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Another, Related Answer: Our ability to use and learn (our ﬁrst) language is a uniquely human instinct.

I Studying language is studying something special...

I Studying language is studying something intimately genetically human...

Language: Why Study Human Languages? A Uniquely Human Instinct Question from last class: Why study human languages? Course Readings Language Learning as an Answer from last class: Instinct Our ability to use and learn language is actually a Plausibility profound biological mystery: Evidence: Language and Other Instincts I What is the system of rules and expressions (mental Evidence: representations) that underlies out ability to speak and Independence understand a human language? from Intelligence Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Why Study Human Languages? A Uniquely Human Instinct Question from last class: Why study human languages? Course Readings Language Learning as an Answer from last class: Instinct Our ability to use and learn language is actually a Plausibility profound biological mystery: Evidence: Language and Other Instincts I What is the system of rules and expressions (mental Evidence: representations) that underlies out ability to speak and Independence understand a human language? from Intelligence Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Another, Related Answer: Summary Our ability to use and learn (our ﬁrst) language is a uniquely human instinct.

I Studying language is studying something special...

I Studying language is studying something intimately genetically human... Language: Language, an Instinct?!? A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility A Natural, Skeptical Reaction: Evidence: Language and Other Instincts I How could language be an instinct?... Evidence: Independence I I wasn’t born speaking a language; I had to learn it from Intelligence

from my parents... Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: The Real Proposal: A Uniquely Human Instinct An Instinct to Learn Language

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Background Analogy: Birdsong Plausibility I Birds are not born with the ability to sing the song of Evidence: Language and their species. Other Instincts Evidence: I However, they are born with a very special, species Independence speciﬁc ability: from Intelligence Evidence: The I the ability (and drive) to learn the song of their ‘Grammar Gene’ species Summary I Since this is an ability of speciﬁc bird species, it’s an instinct The Proposal (In a Nutshell): I What’s written into our genes is not the ability to speak a particular language (e.g. English).

I Rather, it’s the ability (and drive) to learn any human language (as a ﬁrst language).

Language: The Real Proposal: A Uniquely Human Instinct An Instinct to Learn Language

Course Readings The Proposed Analogy: Language Learning as an Instinct I People aren’t born with the ability to speak a language. Plausibility Evidence: I However, they are born with a very special, species Language and speciﬁc ability: Other Instincts Evidence: I the ability (and drive) to learn a language Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: The Real Proposal: A Uniquely Human Instinct An Instinct to Learn Language

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

The Proposal (In a Nutshell): Summary I What’s written into our genes is not the ability to speak a particular language (e.g. English).

I Rather, it’s the ability (and drive) to learn any human language (as a ﬁrst language). Terminology: Language Acquisition Going from a state of not speaking a language to a state of speaking a language.

I Linguists don’t call this ‘language learning’, because it’s not clear that it is ‘learning’ (in the same sense that you ‘learn’ general facts about the world).

Language: But Why Think This? A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an It’s a cute idea, but why should we think it’s true? Instinct Plausibility

Evidence: Language and Other Instincts

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: But Why Think This? A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an It’s a cute idea, but why should we think it’s true? Instinct Plausibility

Evidence: Language and Terminology: Language Acquisition Other Instincts Going from a state of not speaking a language to a state Evidence: Independence of speaking a language. from Intelligence

Evidence: The I Linguists don’t call this ‘language learning’, because it’s ‘Grammar Gene’

not clear that it is ‘learning’ (in the same sense that you Summary ‘learn’ general facts about the world). Language: Well, It’s Plausible A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Humans are physically adapted for speech: Plausibility I Voice box placement Evidence: Language and Other Instincts I Speciﬁc brain areas for language Evidence: Independence Other kinds of learning is genetically driven (instinctive): from Intelligence Evidence: The I Walking ‘Grammar Gene’ Summary I Eating Language: Language and Other Instincts A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Evidence: Language and A More Interesting Argument: Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive It seems that language exhibits many of the Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species characteristics of instinctive behaviors. Emergence Before Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 1: A Uniquely Human Instinct Uniformity Across Species

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility First Characteristic: Evidence: Language and Instincts are shared by all (healthy) members of the Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive species. Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I All (healthy) humans walk (no matter what their Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence culture). Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct I All (healthy) cardinals sing. Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 1: A Uniquely Human Instinct Uniformity Across Species

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Language is a behavior that is uniform across all Plausibility

human cultures (LING 101) Evidence: Language and Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I No known human culture has ever lacked language. Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species I Societies which are unable to speak/hear Emergence Before Necessity spontaneously invent sign languages. ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones I All human languages are equally expressive Impotency of Direct Teaching I There is no (ﬁrst) language that is unable to express Critical Period everything that is expressible in English. Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 2: A Uniquely Human Instinct Emergence Before Necessity

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct Second Characteristic: Plausibility Evidence: Instinctive behaviors emerge before they are really Language and Other Instincts needed Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species I Humans begin learning to walk when they could still Emergence Before Necessity be carried. ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones I Birds (Zebra Finches) learn to sing before sexual Impotency of Direct Teaching maturity. Critical Period Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 2: A Uniquely Human Instinct Emergence Before Necessity

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Evidence: Humans begin learning language long before they Language and ‘need’ it to communicate. Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I Humans begin learning language in the womb. Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I They acquire full ﬂuency by age four. Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 3: A Uniquely Human Instinct Automatic Appearance

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct Third Characteristic: Plausibility Evidence: The emergence of instinctive behaviors is ‘automatic’ Language and Other Instincts (unrelated to external events or conscious decision.) Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species I Birds don’t need any special encouragement to learn Emergence Before Necessity to sing. ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones I Humans don’t ‘decide’ they want to learn to walk, Impotency of Direct Teaching they just start doing it. Critical Period Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 3: A Uniquely Human Instinct Automatic Appearance

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility Acquisition of a ﬁrst language is similarly ‘automatic’. Evidence: Language and Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I Humans begin language learning in the womb. Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species I Continued language acquisition is not something Emergence Before Necessity humans can ‘give up’. ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I (Unlike, say, tying their shoes or playing an Milestones Impotency of Direct instrument.) Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 4: A Uniquely Human Instinct Uniform Sequence of Milestones

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Fourth Characteristic: Evidence: Language and The emergence of an instinct follows a predictable Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive sequence of ‘milestones’, correlated with age and other Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species aspects of development. Emergence Before Necessity I All children learn to walk in the same way ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I rolling > rocking > crawling backwards > crawling Milestones Impotency of Direct forwards > creeping > walking Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 4: A Uniquely Human Instinct Uniform Sequence of Milestones

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Evidence: Acquisition of a ﬁrst language follows just such a Language and Other Instincts sequence of ‘milestones’. Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before Necessity I Just ask any pediatrician or parent (or anyone who’s ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of read What to Expect...) Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 5: A Uniquely Human Instinct Direct Teaching Does Nothing

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Evidence: Fifth Characteristic: Language and Other Instincts Development of instinctive behaviors cannot be affected Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: by ‘direct teaching’. Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before Necessity I Nothing you can do will make your children learn to ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of walk sooner. Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Children’s errors are famously impervious to explicit correction from parents.

I This is only occasional and sporadic.

I This is hardly ever correction of mistakes (a key part of language learning) I There is no evidence to suggest this actually does anything:

Language: Characteristic 5: A Uniquely Human Instinct Direct Teaching Does Nothing

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Although parents do occasionally make efforts to Plausibility

explicitly ‘teach’ things about their language.... Evidence: Language and Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Children’s errors are famously impervious to explicit correction from parents.

I This is hardly ever correction of mistakes (a key part of language learning) I There is no evidence to suggest this actually does anything:

Language: Characteristic 5: A Uniquely Human Instinct Direct Teaching Does Nothing

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Although parents do occasionally make efforts to Plausibility

explicitly ‘teach’ things about their language.... Evidence: Language and I This is only occasional and sporadic. Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Children’s errors are famously impervious to explicit correction from parents.

I There is no evidence to suggest this actually does anything:

Language: Characteristic 5: A Uniquely Human Instinct Direct Teaching Does Nothing

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Although parents do occasionally make efforts to Plausibility

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 5: A Uniquely Human Instinct Direct Teaching Does Nothing

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Although parents do occasionally make efforts to Plausibility

explicitly ‘teach’ things about their language.... Evidence: Language and I This is only occasional and sporadic. Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: I This is hardly ever correction of mistakes (a key Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before part of language learning) Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence I There is no evidence to suggest this actually Uniform Sequence of Milestones does anything: Impotency of Direct Teaching I Children’s errors are famously impervious to Critical Period explicit correction from parents. Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy.

I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.”

I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.”

I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “other...one...spoon”

I Dad: “Say ‘the’.”

I Child: “the.”

I Dad: “Say ‘other’.”

I Child: “Other.”

I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.”

I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Evidence: Language and Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.”

I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.”

I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “other...one...spoon”

I Dad: “Say ‘the’.”

I Child: “the.”

I Dad: “Say ‘other’.”

I Child: “Other.”

I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.”

I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.”

I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “other...one...spoon”

I Dad: “Say ‘the’.”

I Child: “the.”

I Dad: “Say ‘other’.”

I Child: “Other.”

I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.”

I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “other...one...spoon”

I Dad: “Say ‘the’.”

I Child: “the.”

I Dad: “Say ‘other’.”

I Child: “Other.”

I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.”

I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Child: “other...one...spoon”

I Dad: “Say ‘the’.”

I Child: “the.”

I Dad: “Say ‘other’.”

I Child: “Other.”

I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.”

I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.” Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Dad: “Say ‘the’.”

I Child: “the.”

I Dad: “Say ‘other’.”

I Child: “Other.”

I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.”

I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.” Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I Child: “other...one...spoon” Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Child: “the.”

I Dad: “Say ‘other’.”

I Child: “Other.”

I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.”

I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.” Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I Child: “other...one...spoon” Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I Dad: “Say ‘the’.” Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Dad: “Say ‘other’.”

I Child: “Other.”

I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.”

I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.” Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I Child: “other...one...spoon” Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I Dad: “Say ‘the’.” Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I Child: “the.” Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Child: “Other.”

I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.”

I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.” Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I Child: “other...one...spoon” Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I Dad: “Say ‘the’.” Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I Child: “the.” Milestones Impotency of Direct I Dad: “Say ‘other’.” Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.”

I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.” Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I Child: “other...one...spoon” Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I Dad: “Say ‘the’.” Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I Child: “the.” Milestones Impotency of Direct I Dad: “Say ‘other’.” Teaching Critical Period

I Child: “Other.” Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Child: “Spoon.”

I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.” Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I Child: “other...one...spoon” Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I Dad: “Say ‘the’.” Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I Child: “the.” Milestones Impotency of Direct I Dad: “Say ‘other’.” Teaching Critical Period

I Child: “Other.” Evidence: Independence I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.” from Intelligence Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.”

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.” Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I Child: “other...one...spoon” Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I Dad: “Say ‘the’.” Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I Child: “the.” Milestones Impotency of Direct I Dad: “Say ‘other’.” Teaching Critical Period

I Child: “Other.” Evidence: Independence I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.” from Intelligence Evidence: The I Child: “Spoon.” ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon?

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.” Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I Child: “other...one...spoon” Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I Dad: “Say ‘the’.” Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I Child: “the.” Milestones Impotency of Direct I Dad: “Say ‘other’.” Teaching Critical Period

I Child: “Other.” Evidence: Independence I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.” from Intelligence Evidence: The I Child: “Spoon.” ‘Grammar Gene’ I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.” Summary Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to correction: Course Readings I Child: “Want other one spoon, daddy. Language Learning as an Instinct I Dad: “You mean, you want the other spoon.” Plausibility I Child: “Yes, I want other one spoon, please Daddy.” Evidence: Language and I Dad: “Can you say ‘the other spoon’.” Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive I Child: “other...one...spoon” Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I Dad: “Say ‘the’.” Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I Child: “the.” Milestones Impotency of Direct I Dad: “Say ‘other’.” Teaching Critical Period

I Child: “Other.” Evidence: Independence I Dad: “Say ‘spoon’.” from Intelligence Evidence: The I Child: “Spoon.” ‘Grammar Gene’ I Dad: “Say ‘the other spoon’.” Summary

I Child: “‘Other...spoon’. Now give me other one spoon? I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.”

I Mother: “No, say ‘Nobody likes me’.”

I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.”

I (This repeats eight times)

I Mother: (now exhausted) “Now listen carefully! Say ‘Nobody likes me’.”

I Child: Oh! Nobody doesn’t likes me.

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to explicit correction: Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Mother: “No, say ‘Nobody likes me’.”

I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.”

I (This repeats eight times)

I Mother: (now exhausted) “Now listen carefully! Say ‘Nobody likes me’.”

I Child: Oh! Nobody doesn’t likes me.

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to explicit correction: Course Readings

Language I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.” Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.”

I (This repeats eight times)

I Mother: (now exhausted) “Now listen carefully! Say ‘Nobody likes me’.”

I Child: Oh! Nobody doesn’t likes me.

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to explicit correction: Course Readings

Language I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.” Learning as an Instinct I Mother: “No, say ‘Nobody likes me’.” Plausibility

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I (This repeats eight times)

I Mother: (now exhausted) “Now listen carefully! Say ‘Nobody likes me’.”

I Child: Oh! Nobody doesn’t likes me.

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to explicit correction: Course Readings

Language I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.” Learning as an Instinct I Mother: “No, say ‘Nobody likes me’.” Plausibility I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.” Evidence: Language and Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Mother: (now exhausted) “Now listen carefully! Say ‘Nobody likes me’.”

I Child: Oh! Nobody doesn’t likes me.

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to explicit correction: Course Readings

Language I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.” Learning as an Instinct I Mother: “No, say ‘Nobody likes me’.” Plausibility I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.” Evidence: Language and Other Instincts I (This repeats eight times) Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Child: Oh! Nobody doesn’t likes me.

Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to explicit correction: Course Readings

Language I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.” Learning as an Instinct I Mother: “No, say ‘Nobody likes me’.” Plausibility I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.” Evidence: Language and Other Instincts I (This repeats eight times) Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Mother: (now exhausted) “Now listen carefully! Say Uniformity Across Species I Emergence Before ‘Nobody likes me’.” Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Correcting Children’s Language: Pointless A Uniquely Human Instinct Here are a couple famous (real-life) dialogs that illustrate how

little kids pay attention to explicit correction: Course Readings

Language I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.” Learning as an Instinct I Mother: “No, say ‘Nobody likes me’.” Plausibility I Child: “Nobody don’t like me.” Evidence: Language and Other Instincts I (This repeats eight times) Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Mother: (now exhausted) “Now listen carefully! Say Uniformity Across Species I Emergence Before ‘Nobody likes me’.” Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of I Child: Oh! Nobody doesn’t likes me. Milestones Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 6: A Uniquely Human Instinct A ‘Critical Period’ for Learning

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct Sixth Characteristic: Plausibility Evidence: For many instincts, there is a ‘critical period’ for learning Language and Other Instincts the behavior. Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species I If the organism doesn’t acquire the behavior by a Emergence Before Necessity certain age, they never will. ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones I Example: If a bird is not exposed to its song by a Impotency of Direct Teaching particular age, it never really learns to sing. Critical Period Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Characteristic 6: A Uniquely Human Instinct A ‘Critical Period’ for Learning

Course Readings

Language There is evidence to suggest that there is a ‘critical Learning as an period’ for learning a ﬁrst language (LING 101). Instinct Plausibility

Evidence: Language and I Due to horriﬁc circumstances, some children end up Other Instincts spending years isolated from human language. Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before I Children discovered before adolescence develop Necessity language with normal competency. ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones Impotency of Direct I Children discovered after the onset of adolescence Teaching typically never develop full adult competency in Critical Period language... Evidence: Independence I despite years of subsequent exposure to language from Intelligence I despite developing other abilities normally. Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Summary A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct In summary, human language seems to share Plausibility Evidence: commonalities with other instinctive behaviors... Language and Other Instincts Characteristics of Instinctive Behaviors: Which suggests that language learning might be an Uniformity Across Species Emergence Before instinct (like birdsong)... Necessity ‘Automatic’ Emergence Uniform Sequence of Milestones But there’s also more evidence... Impotency of Direct Teaching Critical Period

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Commonsense Answer: Because other organisms are too stupid.

I Other organisms just lack the ‘general intelligence’ required to learn language.

Language: Independence from General Intelligence A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Question: Instinct Plausibility Why do human children learn language when exposed to Evidence: it, but not other organisms, like cats? Language and Other Instincts

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: Independence from General Intelligence A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Question: Instinct Plausibility Why do human children learn language when exposed to Evidence: it, but not other organisms, like cats? Language and Other Instincts

Evidence: Commonsense Answer: Independence Because other organisms are too stupid. from Intelligence Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’ I Other organisms just lack the ‘general intelligence’ Summary required to learn language. I Individuals have great difﬁculty constructing sentences I Pronunciation is otherwise ﬁne I Individuals are otherwise psychologically normal

I Individuals are generally ‘impaired’ (IQ ≤ 50) I Individuals have (basically) normal language competence.

I Recall, language acquisition begins in the womb. I Speciﬁc Language Impairment (SLI)

I William’s Syndrome

Language: Independence from General Intelligence A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Problem for Commonsense Answer: Language Learning as an Language acquisition doesn’t seem to depend on Instinct

‘general intelligence’. Plausibility

Evidence: Language and Other Instincts

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Individuals have great difﬁculty constructing sentences I Pronunciation is otherwise ﬁne I Individuals are otherwise psychologically normal

I Individuals are generally ‘impaired’ (IQ ≤ 50) I Individuals have (basically) normal language competence.

I Speciﬁc Language Impairment (SLI)

I William’s Syndrome

Language: Independence from General Intelligence A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Problem for Commonsense Answer: Language Learning as an Language acquisition doesn’t seem to depend on Instinct

‘general intelligence’. Plausibility I Recall, language acquisition begins in the womb. Evidence: Language and Other Instincts

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Individuals are generally ‘impaired’ (IQ ≤ 50) I Individuals have (basically) normal language competence.

I William’s Syndrome

Language: Independence from General Intelligence A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Problem for Commonsense Answer: Language Learning as an Language acquisition doesn’t seem to depend on Instinct

‘general intelligence’. Plausibility I Recall, language acquisition begins in the womb. Evidence: Language and I Specific Language Impairment (SLI) Other Instincts Evidence: I Individuals have great difficulty constructing Independence sentences from Intelligence I Pronunciation is otherwise fine Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’ I Individuals are otherwise psychologically normal Summary Language: Independence from General Intelligence A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Problem for Commonsense Answer: Language Learning as an Language acquisition doesn’t seem to depend on Instinct

‘general intelligence’. Plausibility I Recall, language acquisition begins in the womb. Evidence: Language and I Specific Language Impairment (SLI) Other Instincts Evidence: I Individuals have great difficulty constructing Independence sentences from Intelligence I Pronunciation is otherwise fine Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’ I Individuals are otherwise psychologically normal Summary I William’s Syndrome I Individuals are generally ‘impaired’ (IQ ≤ 50) I Individuals have (basically) normal language competence. Language: Independence from General Intelligence A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct Conclusion: Plausibility Language acquisition does not depend on ‘general Evidence: Language and intelligence’. Other Instincts Evidence: I Rather, it seems tied to a separate, specialized Independence mental sub-system... from Intelligence Evidence: The I ...which lends support to the idea that it’s in-born in ‘Grammar Gene’ people... Summary Language: FOXP2, A ‘Grammar Gene’? A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility A Natural Question: Evidence: If (ﬁrst) language acquisition is instinctive... Language and Other Instincts

I Then it must be encoded in our genes in some way... Evidence: Independence from Intelligence I So, is there any evidence for such a ‘language Evidence: The gene’? ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I SLI appears to be a genetic condition.

I Scientists have therefore studied the genetic markers of people with SLI.

I They seem to have a defective ‘FOXP2’ gene. I This suggests that ‘FOXP2’ might be involved in encoding our ‘language instinct’.

I Interestingly, ‘FOXP2’ also plays a role in the development of birdsong.

Language: FOXP2, A ‘Grammar Gene’? A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language A Tentative Answer: Learning as an This is a very complex and delicate issue, but here’s what Instinct is known: Plausibility Evidence: Language and Other Instincts

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I Scientists have therefore studied the genetic markers of people with SLI.

I They seem to have a defective ‘FOXP2’ gene. I This suggests that ‘FOXP2’ might be involved in encoding our ‘language instinct’.

I Interestingly, ‘FOXP2’ also plays a role in the development of birdsong.

Language: FOXP2, A ‘Grammar Gene’? A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

Language A Tentative Answer: Learning as an This is a very complex and delicate issue, but here’s what Instinct is known: Plausibility Evidence: I SLI appears to be a genetic condition. Language and Other Instincts

Evidence: Independence from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I They seem to have a defective ‘FOXP2’ gene. I This suggests that ‘FOXP2’ might be involved in encoding our ‘language instinct’.

I Interestingly, ‘FOXP2’ also plays a role in the development of birdsong.

Language: FOXP2, A ‘Grammar Gene’? A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

I Scientists have therefore studied the genetic markers Evidence: Independence of people with SLI. from Intelligence

Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary I This suggests that ‘FOXP2’ might be involved in encoding our ‘language instinct’.

I Interestingly, ‘FOXP2’ also plays a role in the development of birdsong.

Language: FOXP2, A ‘Grammar Gene’? A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

I Scientists have therefore studied the genetic markers Evidence: Independence of people with SLI. from Intelligence

I They seem to have a defective ‘FOXP2’ gene. Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

Summary Language: FOXP2, A ‘Grammar Gene’? A Uniquely Human Instinct

Course Readings

I Scientists have therefore studied the genetic markers Evidence: Independence of people with SLI. from Intelligence

I They seem to have a defective ‘FOXP2’ gene. Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’

I This suggests that ‘FOXP2’ might be involved in Summary encoding our ‘language instinct’.

I Interestingly, ‘FOXP2’ also plays a role in the development of birdsong. Language: General Summary: A Uniquely Human Instinct Language as a Human Instinct

Question from last class: Course Readings Why study human languages? Language Learning as an Answer from last class: Instinct Plausibility Our ability to use and learn language is actually a Evidence: profound biological mystery: Language and Other Instincts I What is the system of rules and expressions (mental Evidence: Independence representations) that underlies out ability to speak and from Intelligence

understand a human language? Evidence: The ‘Grammar Gene’ Another, Related Answer: Summary Our ability to use and learn (our ﬁrst) language is a uniquely human instinct.

I Studying language is studying something special...

I Studying language is studying something intimately genetically human... Language: General Summary: A Uniquely Human Instinct The Proposal

Course Readings

Language Learning as an Instinct

Plausibility

Evidence: The Proposal (In a Nutshell): Language and Other Instincts I What’s written into our genes is not the ability to Evidence: speak a particular language (e.g. English). Independence from Intelligence

I Rather, it’s the ability (and drive) to learn any human Evidence: The language (as a ﬁrst language). ‘Grammar Gene’ Summary Language: General Summary: A Uniquely Human Instinct The Evidence

Course Readings

Language Learning as an There are several lines of evidence that support this key Instinct Plausibility proposal: Evidence: Language and I Other physiological developments for language Other Instincts I Language exhibits (six) key characteristics of other Evidence: Independence instinctive behaviors. from Intelligence Evidence: The I The ability to learn a (ﬁrst) language is independent ‘Grammar Gene’

of general intelligence. Summary

I Normal language development appears to be tied to a speciﬁc gene (FOXP2)