Packet 3: Tossup 7

Specific term required. This theory is rejected in favor of “domain-general” explanations of its topic in Adele Goldberg’s Constructions at Work. Michael Tomasello declared that this theory “is dead” and advocates a “usage-based” theory. The “least effort condition” requires using resources from this theory unless a null output results. (-5[1])In P&P theory, this other theory takes the form of namesake “principles” that are instantiated by “parameters” (-5[1])that act like switches. This theory reduces to the “simplest possible computational operation” in the “Strong Minimalist Thesis.” This theory is supported by the argument that “scattered and degenerate” inputs (10[2])still lead to language acquisition. (10[2])For 10 points, the “poverty (10[1]-5[1])of the stimulus” (10[5]-5[1])argument (-5[1])supports what theory (-5[1])proposed (10[1])by Noam Chomsky (10[2]-5[2])that there is an innate set of syntactic constraints across (10[1])all humans? (10[2])■END■ (10[6]0[2])

ANSWER: universal grammar hypothesis [or UG; prompt on linguistic nativism or word forms; prompt on language acquisition device or LAD until “acquisition” is read; prompt on generative grammar or transformational generative grammar or word forms; prompt on the Minimalist Program, government and binding theory, or X-bar theory; prompt on the narrow faculty of language, language faculty, or FLN; reject “broad faculty of language,” “faculty of language broadly,” or “FLB”]
<Editors, Social Science> | L. Playoffs 3 (Editors 3)
= Average correct buzzpoint

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