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    In generative linguistics, assumptions like Universal Gra... — Carmelics
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    Supports→The foundational assumptions of generative linguistic theory are not subjected to empirical testing.

    In generative linguistics, assumptions like Universal Grammar and innate language acquisition are insulated from falsification by continual revision of peripheral syntactic rules, not the core.

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    Key Terms

    Core (in linguistic theory)(the central assumptions that are protected from criticism)
    The fundamental, central rules and principles that are believed to be the essential foundation of how language works.
    Generative linguistics(the main field being discussed in the statement)
    A branch of language study that tries to explain how people understand and create sentences by discovering the underlying rules and principles of language.
    Innate language acquisition(an assumption about how we learn language)
    The idea that humans are born with a built-in ability to learn language, rather than learning it entirely from scratch like we learn other skills.
    Insulated from falsification(describes how Universal Grammar avoids being disproven)
    Protected from being proven wrong because the theory is designed so that any evidence against it can be explained away by making small adjustments.

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    Peripheral syntactic rules(the parts of grammar that can be changed without affecting the central theory)
    The minor, less important grammatical rules that handle exceptions and unusual cases in language, as opposed to the main core rules.
    falsification(Deductive logic applied to scientific hypothesis testing)
    The logical refutation of a hypothesis h_i by evidence, occurring when b·c·e jointly entail ~h_i, derived via modus tollens from h_i·b·c ⊨ ~e and the observation of e
    universal grammar(Chomskyan generative essentialism)
    The innately specified set of permissible grammars that constrains the hypothesis space available to a human language learner

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    Philosophy of Language1 linkedSkepticism1 linked

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    The foundational assumptions of generative linguistic theory are not subjected t...

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