Positive Aspects of Universal Grammar Theory

 Positive Aspects of Universal Grammar Theory


Despite the issues with UG theory and its application to language learning, there are some areas of language teaching that the theory can be given credence.

There are nouns or words for things and there are verbs, or action words that are in all languages. This could be said to suggest innate language ability and universal grammar.

Furthermore, every language identifies gender and uses past and present tense. All languages ask questions and use negatives such as "don't". Children need to follow these rules about grammar, to learn their language.

Furthermore, all children acquire language through the same stages, although at different rates. 

Chompsky’s UG theory is perhaps best credited for explaining how children acquire languages and mother tongue learning. 


In the next blog post, another theory of grammar, Functional Grammar will be viewed.

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