Universal grammar theory proposes what about the mind and language?

• A. The mind has a set of switches that get set when learning language in childhood
• B. Language is learned solely from exposure without innate structure
• C. All languages share identical grammar from birth
• D. Language development is entirely random

Answer: (A)

Language learning is guided by an inherent set of grammatical constraints in the mind, with a group of adjustable parameters that get configured as a child is exposed to language. This view, central to universal grammar, explains how children acquire complex syntax rapidly from limited input and why languages share deep similarities while still differing in specifics. The idea is that the brain provides prewired rules and a mechanism to set certain options based on linguistic experience, rather than starting from scratch or learning purely by imitation. Evidence for this includes cross-language universals, the speed of acquisition, and the fact that children often infer rules that aren’t explicitly taught—points that support innate constraints shaping language development. In contrast, the notion that language comes solely from exposure without any built-in structure, that all languages have identical grammar from birth, or that development is random, does not align with how language seems to be guided by underlying cognitive constraints and parameter settings.