The architecture of language

"Noam Chomsky is one of the most widely published and influential thinkers on language and mind. He has consistently maintained that human beings are genetically endowed with an innate language faculty - a set of principles that constitute what he calls the 'Universal Grammar'. Particular languages are generated by specific environmental conditions. This approach to the study of languages has been called a 'generative enterprise' and has revolutionzed our understanding of human languages and other cognitive systems." "This consists of the edited transcript of a lecture, delivered at the University of Delhi in Janurary 1996, where Chomsky reflected on the history of the enterprise and related it to some strikingly novel advances in recent grammatical theory called the 'Minimalist Programme'. Integrating philosophical and conceptual issues with empirical research, he sketched some of the key issues that have characterized generative grammar in recent years to chart out the agenda for future research in language theory." "The volume includes extensive clarificatory notes and references and a complete bibliography of Chomsky's publications on linguistics and cognitive theory. While linguists interested in the internal history of generative linguistics will find this an immensely insightful work, it will also be useful for students and general readers who wish to gain an introductory knowledge of the discipline, its significance, and Chomsky's contribution."--BOOK JACKET.