From "McDwonalds" to Writing Essays on Wuthering Heights

Carnie’s article touched on a lot of interesting theories in syntax: generative grammar (Principles and Parameters approach, as well as Minimalism), parts of speech, and constituency. The most relatable part of the reading for me was the part in which Carnie talked about language acquisition. Carnie was focused on how parents hardly ever correct their child’s syntax. For instance, Marcus et al. 1992 observed this interaction between adult and child:

Adult: Where is that big piece of paper I gave you yesterday.
Child: Remember? I writed on it.
Adult: Oh that’s right, don’t you have any paper down here, buddy?

In this instance, the adult doesn’t stop to tell the child that he should say “I wrote on it” rather than “I writed on it.” Instead, he continues with the conversation nonchalantly. This example alone made me consider the virtues of Universal Grammar (UG). Alec Marantz/Chomsky’s proof about how syntax is an unlearnable system was able to convince me altogether that language is innate.

As Carnie notes “children still acquire language in the face of complete lack of instruction.” As an older sister, I related so well to this quote. My barfing, gurgling little sister who had major problems with phonetics and said “McDwonalds” to denote her cravings for the golden arches now is spitting out essays for high school English classes. Oddly enough, I even had her call me “Carnie” like the name of the author because she had trouble saying “Caroline." Yet, here she is, years later, subconsciously stringing together intelligible sentences for her love of Ariana Grande and The 1975.

This summer, I also had the unique privilege of spending lots of time with a very special 3-year-old, the daughter of the professor of my Bing Overseas Seminar. She was in the habit of calling all birds “love doves,” regardless of their species. Yet, I have no doubt in years to come, she’ll be just like my sister, writing essay at midnight for English classes and knowing her herons from her swans.

The Carnie reading and my experiences with children and language have convinced me that language is indeed innate. Though, on one hand, we don’t come out of the womb saying, “Hey mom!” we do figure out so much about syntax on our own subconsciously. I am now much more grateful to my subconscious for the ability to use language!