Importance Of Language: Inheritance Vs. Environment

Language: Inheritance vs Environment

Introduction

Language is the sequence of random symbols, combined in an arranged fashion. These symbols must follow a certain convention, based on the grammar, and result in a meaningful sentence. There are three basic rules needed in order to grasp a language and to be able to communicate. Semantics, that is the vocabulary and the meaning of words, syntax which concerns the arrangement of words and phrases to create expressive sentences and pragmatics which is the knowledge behind the use of a language such as staying on topic and language customs and routines. Yet, not all individuals have the same linguistic skills and the question of whether language is innate or learned has rose controversies with linguists.

His theory about “Universal Grammar” is very important when considering the genetic role in language acquisition. Chomsky thinks of the Universal Grammar as model that all languages follow and he says that it defines the various sections of grammar and the relation between them (Fromkin 14). Also, Chomsky believes that this innate ability controls the laws of language (Fromkin 15). “Poverty of stimulus” is an argument supporting the innateness of language where children receive a sequence of sounds and not different structures of the sentences, but they are still capable of reaching the rules, understanding them, and elaborating on these rules (Fromkin 396:397). For example, children may hear their parents saying, “give me the cup” without learning or analyzing the components of this sentence (declarative form, verb noun…etc) they are capable of using it again, but in different meaning as in “give him the tissue”. This illustrates how the genetic factors, innateness, affect language acquisition.

In addition to theoretical view of innateness of language studies have proved that genetic factors affect language acquisition.

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