P/PS/120. Dissertation. Is language a genetically inherited ‘innate’ trait?

The dissertation investigates the concept of ‘innateness’ approaching it from the perspective of psycholinguistics. A review of literature on cognitive, linguistic and biological understandings of the term is presented including the trait theory, the genotype theory, the evolutionary theory, the linguistic theory of Chomsky, etc. The debate between nativists’ and empiricists’ explanations of innateness is discussed. A case study is conducted examining Specific Language Impairment (SLI) in the context of Chomskyan idea that grammar is innate and inherited. The genetic ‘non-acquired’ nature of language deficiency is argued contributing to the understanding of ‘innate’ traits.