Speech vs.
Writing (Chomsky’s View)
● Primary Mode of Language: Chomsky argues that speech is the primary form of
language, while writing is a secondary representation of spoken language.
● Innateness of Speech: Humans are biologically predisposed to acquire speech, as
evidenced by how children learn to speak naturally without formal instruction.
● Writing is a Recent Invention: Writing is a relatively modern development in human
history and not part of the innate human capacity for language.
● Speech as Primary Evidence: Linguistic theory, according to Chomsky, should
focus on speech as the core data for understanding language because it reflects the
underlying cognitive structures more clearly than writing.
Knowledge of Language (Chomsky’s View)
● Linguistic Competence vs. Performance: Chomsky distinguishes between
competence (a speaker's internalized knowledge of language rules) and
performance (actual language use in specific contexts).
● Universal Grammar: Chomsky proposes that all humans have an innate Universal
Grammar (UG), a set of grammatical principles common to all languages, which
enables the acquisition of any language.
● Innate Knowledge: This innate knowledge of language (UG) allows children to
quickly and effortlessly acquire language, even in complex environments with limited
input.
● Syntax and Structure: According to Chomsky, syntax (the structure of sentences) is
a core aspect of linguistic competence, which can be studied independently from
meanings and social context.
Language and Thought (Chomsky’s View)
● Modularity of Mind: Chomsky posits that language is a separate mental faculty that
interacts with other cognitive abilities but is not determined by them. Language and
thought are interconnected but not identical.
● Linguistic Determinism: Chomsky rejects the strong version of the Sapir-Whorf
hypothesis (linguistic determinism), which suggests that language strictly shapes
thought. Instead, he supports a more moderate version (linguistic relativism),
where language can influence thought but does not strictly define it.
● Creativity of Language: Human language allows for creative generation of
sentences, demonstrating the capacity for abstract thought. This is different from the
behavior seen in animals or machines, where responses are limited to specific
stimuli.
● Thought Beyond Language: Chomsky suggests that humans can think about
abstract concepts, like time or emotion, without needing specific linguistic
expressions for them. This implies that thought is not entirely dependent on
language.
Chomsky’s View on the Origin of Language
● Innate Capacity: Chomsky argues that humans have an innate biological capacity
for language. He believes that the ability to acquire language is hardwired into the
human brain through Universal Grammar (UG).
● Language as a Species-Specific Trait: According to Chomsky, language is a
species-specific trait unique to humans, not the result of gradual evolution from
animal communication systems.
● The "Poverty of the Stimulus" Argument: Chomsky claims that children are
exposed to limited and imperfect language input, yet they can still acquire a full
linguistic system. This supports the idea of an innate language faculty, suggesting
that humans are born with a cognitive structure that facilitates language learning.
● Minimalist Program: In his later work, Chomsky proposes the Minimalist Program,
suggesting that language evolved through the simplification of cognitive structures
over time. He believes that language likely began as a complexity-reducing
process that evolved from earlier forms of communication, becoming a sophisticated
system over time.
● Evolution of Language: Chomsky believes that language emerged suddenly in
evolutionary terms, rather than gradually, through a genetic mutation or development
that enabled early humans to develop complex syntactic structures. This is often
referred to as the “evolutionary leap” in language.
● Language Evolution as a Cognitive Revolution: The origin of language, for
Chomsky, is a cognitive revolution, rather than a social or cultural development. He
sees language as a product of cognitive changes in the human brain that set
humans apart from other animals in their communicative abilities.
