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... Though 4,000 languages spoken in the world differ greatly in sounds and symbols, they sufficiently resemble each other in syntax to suggest that there is ¡§a schema of universal grammar¡¨ determined by ¡§deep structures¡¨ or ¡§ innate presettings¡¨ in the human mind itself. ... He once said, ¡§One reason for studying language ¡V and for me personally the most compelling reason ¡V is that it is tempting to regard language, in the traditional phrase, as ¡¥a mirror of mind.¡¦ ¡¨ This paper attempts to analyze some of his theories to demonstrate his ideas on the study of language as the mirror of the mind. ...
Although having a language is not prerequisite for having a mind, language is overwhelmingly our best evidence for the nature of mind. Language is definitional of what it is to be human and the study of language is a way in to the study of the human mind. According to Chomsky, mind may encompass more cognitive faculties than language. But linguistic studies are best suited of all to reveal the essence of mind. ...
The most spectacular conclusion about the nature of the human language faculty that Chomsky derives from his research work in linguistics is that his results justify the claims of the 17th century rationalist philosophers, Descartes, Leibniz and others, that there are innate ideas in the mind. ... The only explanation for these facts, according to Chomsky, is that the child has the form of the language already built into his mind as a part of his genetic inheritance.
Approximate Word count = 1206
Approximate Pages = 4.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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