Document Type : Research

Author

• Reza Sahraee

TabaTabai University

Abstract

The goal of this article is to evaluate the Generative Model of Language Acquisition based on data and evidence of Persian syntactic acquisition. For this, at first, the fundamental characteristics which paved the way to the introduction of this model have been reviewed. Then, the question of this research, the nature of UG and the way it is represented in the core grammar has been raised. Continuity and maturational are two main views about the nature of UG and its representation in core grammar. Providing evidence from the acquisition of Persian syntax, we come to this conclusion that neither continuity nor maturation is comprehensive enough to explain the given data and evidence. This implies that any exclusively formal explanation for language acquisition is insufficient. An explanatorily adequate model for child language acquisition is the one that takes both formal and functional preferences in the account. At the end of this article, such a formal- functional model has been suggested.

Keywords

• Universal Grammar
• core grammar
• acquisition
• continuity
• maturation
• representation