Difference between revisions of "Parameter"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Wohlgemuth (talk | contribs) (Parameter moved to Parameter (de): lang) |
(Edited the format, removed the block {{cats}}) |
||
| (2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | + | ==Definition== | |
| + | '''Parameter''' is a notion in the theory of [[Universal Grammar]] and [[language acquisition]]. In Universal Grammar parameters specify certain options: the [[core-grammar]] of a specific language, then, is the result of the specific setting of these parameters. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Example == | ||
| + | The [[Head parameter|Head Parameter]] offers a choice between [[head-first]] (chosen in [[English]]) or [[head-last]] (chosen in [[Japanese]]), which means that the head of a syntactic [[constituent]] precedes or follows its [[complement]]. Parameter theory thus provides an explanation for systematic syntactic variation between languages, and puts restrictions on the number of choices which the language learner has to make. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Links == | ||
| + | *[http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Parameter&lemmacode=376 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == References == | ||
| + | * Chomsky, N. 1986a. ''Knowledge of language: its nature, origin and use,'' Praeger, New York. | ||
| + | * Chomsky, N. 1981. ''Lectures on Government and Binding,'' Foris, Dordrecht. | ||
| + | * Roeper, T and E. Williams (eds.) 1987. ''Parameter Setting,'' Reidel, Kluwer:Dordrecht. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:En]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Psycholinguistics]] | ||
| + | {{dc}} | ||
Latest revision as of 18:59, 21 September 2014
Definition
Parameter is a notion in the theory of Universal Grammar and language acquisition. In Universal Grammar parameters specify certain options: the core-grammar of a specific language, then, is the result of the specific setting of these parameters.
Example
The Head Parameter offers a choice between head-first (chosen in English) or head-last (chosen in Japanese), which means that the head of a syntactic constituent precedes or follows its complement. Parameter theory thus provides an explanation for systematic syntactic variation between languages, and puts restrictions on the number of choices which the language learner has to make.
Links
References
- Chomsky, N. 1986a. Knowledge of language: its nature, origin and use, Praeger, New York.
- Chomsky, N. 1981. Lectures on Government and Binding, Foris, Dordrecht.
- Roeper, T and E. Williams (eds.) 1987. Parameter Setting, Reidel, Kluwer:Dordrecht.
