Thought-Provoking Question #3

Psychology 130
Due Wednesday, July 12th

Please answer the question that follows by July 12th:


Chapter Four discusses lifespan development, and within that, how children acquire language (pages 144-147). Linguists, such as Noam Chomsky, have asserted that humans possess an innate understanding of grammar, which is unique to the species. Recent research could potentially alter some of these theories. An example of some of this research is available on the National Public Radio website:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5503685

Please read the article and, if possible, listen to the accompanying story (you will need windows media player or another service to listen to this-it is only about 14 minutes long) and answer the questions that follow.

What are your impressions of the NPR story? Do you feel that findings from this research contradict or compliment some of the theories as discussed in the text? Please compare and contrast the innateness theory of language with the theory as discussed in the NPR story.