What does Universal Grammar propose?

What does Universal Grammar propose?

• A. Humans are born with an innate set of grammatical principles shared by all languages
• B. Language is learned solely through imitation
• C. Grammar is entirely taught explicitly
• D. Exposure is insufficient for language development

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that language ability comes with built-in knowledge that is shared across all languages. Universal Grammar holds that humans are born with an innate set of grammatical principles and parameter options that form a common blueprint for language. This means children don’t learn grammar from scratch by imitation alone; they use these inborn guidelines to make sense of the language they hear and to form general rules that apply beyond their specific input. That’s why the statement about being born with an innate set of grammatical principles shared by all languages is the best fit. It captures the core claim of UG: there is an underlying, universal structure to grammar that scaffolds language acquisition, guiding learners even when the input is imperfect or limited. The other options describe views (imitation-only learning, explicit teaching of grammar, or exposure being insufficient) that don’t align with the idea of an innate, cross-language grammatical setup shaping how we acquire language.

The idea being tested is that language ability comes with built-in knowledge that is shared across all languages. Universal Grammar holds that humans are born with an innate set of grammatical principles and parameter options that form a common blueprint for language. This means children don’t learn grammar from scratch by imitation alone; they use these inborn guidelines to make sense of the language they hear and to form general rules that apply beyond their specific input.

That’s why the statement about being born with an innate set of grammatical principles shared by all languages is the best fit. It captures the core claim of UG: there is an underlying, universal structure to grammar that scaffolds language acquisition, guiding learners even when the input is imperfect or limited. The other options describe views (imitation-only learning, explicit teaching of grammar, or exposure being insufficient) that don’t align with the idea of an innate, cross-language grammatical setup shaping how we acquire language.