Linguistic universals (Chomskyan)

This article describes the approach to linguistic universals taken within the Chomskyan approach, particularly the Principles and Parameters theory. The notion of Universal Grammar and its implications for linguistic universals are discussed in detail, with particular focus on issues such as the nature of linguistic universals and the innateness hypothesis, specific universal principles and parameters proposed within the Chomskyan approach, the relation between linguistic universals and cross-linguistic variation, and internal vs. external factors in the explanation of linguistic universals. The distinguisting features of the Chomskyan approach with respect to other approaches to linguistic universals are discussed in detail.