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This document provides an overview of the linguistic theories of Plato, Descartes, and Locke. Plato believed that some knowledge of language is innate, such as the ability to construct complex sentences. Descartes also believed that language is innate and reflects human rationality. Locke rejected the idea of innate knowledge and believed that all knowledge comes from sensory experience. The document introduces these three philosophers' perspectives on the origins of language learning and knowledge.

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65 views11 pages

PDF 20230901 134824 0000-1

This document provides an overview of the linguistic theories of Plato, Descartes, and Locke. Plato believed that some knowledge of language is innate, such as the ability to construct complex sentences. Descartes also believed that language is innate and reflects human rationality. Locke rejected the idea of innate knowledge and believed that all knowledge comes from sensory experience. The document introduces these three philosophers' perspectives on the origins of language learning and knowledge.

Uploaded by

Meryll Cea
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UNIT 2: OVERVIEW ON THE

STUDY OF LINGUISTIC
THEORIES AND BRANCHES
LANGUAGE VIEWS OF
PLATO , DECARTES AND
LOCKE
• Theories of language learning have been discussed since
about as far back as one would care to look. It may be
surprising to know that the problems that philosophers in
Ancient Greece and 16th century France were concerned
about are largely still relevant today.

To get a quick rundown of early language learning


theory, let's take a quick look at the ideas of three brilliant
philosophers who you've probably already heard of.
PLATO
- The Platonic Forms, according to Plato, are just
ideas of things that actually exist, the form of
human shows qualities one must have in order
to be human. Plato is where we begin our
journey to understanding the nature of
language learning. Plato's suggestion is,
essentialy, that people have innate knovoledge.
By the age of, most children have the ability to
constract complex sentences in their native
language.
That is why most people can talk early on life. In short, people come into the world
knowing through which are not taught to them.
Plato believe that some knowledge ineding language is inate.
Plato believed that we possess inate ideas that precede any knowledge that we gain
through erperience.
DACARTES
A principle that states that if an action cannot
be taken repeatedly, then it is not right to be
taken at any time.

Centuries later, the French philosopher


Descartes took a crack at linguistic
philosophy. In his opinion, language believed
in the innateness of language because he
thought it reflected the general rationality of
human beings.
The most influential figure in linguistics, however, was not Descartes himself,
but rather the rationalist movement that he represented and that was
expanding at the time he lived. According to Chomsky (who we'll talk about
later), this "Cartesian" approach highlighted the inventiveness present in
ordinary language and put forth the notion that all language was
underpinned by a set of universal rules.
LOCKE
Natural rights - That is, rights that are God given
and can never be taken or even given away.
Among these fundamental natural rights "life,
liberty, and property".
Assuming Plato and the Cartesians are right,
and then learning a language must place a
strong focus on what we already know and
rely on our natural skills to grasp every detail
of a particular language. If Locke is correct,
then we should concentrate on sensory input
and gather as much outside input as we can.
To state it briefly and in a simplified manner, this is the idea that all
knowledge comes from outside ourselves through sensory experience
rather than through innate knowledge that we have at birth. This naturally
carried over to language theory with Locke rejecting the idea that there was
an innate logic behind language.
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Ana Marie DC Eclarinal Adrian E Presentacion Jie Ann Samper


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