Empiricism, syntax, and ontogeny

Dupre, Gabe

doi:10.1080/09515089.2021.1937591

Empiricism, syntax, and ontogeny

Dupre, Gabe

Authors

Gabe Dupre

Abstract

Generative grammarians typically advocate for a rationalist understanding of language acquisition, according to which the structure of a developed language faculty reflects innate guidance rather than environmental influence. This proposal is developed in developmental linguistics by triggering models of language acquisition. Opposing this tradition, various theorists have advocated for empiricist views of language acquisition, according to which the structure of a developed linguistic competence reflects the linguistic environment in which this competence developed. On this picture, linguistic development is accounted for by general statistical learning mechanisms. In this article I shall precisify the debate, provide a clearer picture of what is at stake, and show why an intermediate picture is needed.

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	May 27, 2021
Online Publication Date	Jun 14, 2021
Publication Date	Oct 3, 2021
Journal	Philosophical Psychology
Print ISSN	0951-5089
Publisher	Routledge
Volume	34
Issue	7
Pages	1011-1046
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1080/09515089.2021.1937591
Keywords	Philosophy, Applied Psychology
Publisher URL	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09515089.2021.1937591