乔姆斯基“儿童即语言学家”命题的实质与作用

Chomsky's Analogical Thesis of “Children Are Linguists”:Its Essence and Significance

"儿童即语言学家"是乔姆斯基语言心理学理论中的一个核心命题。该命题包括两个方面:本体论上,儿童是构建语法的"语言学家";方法论上,语言学家则应该是"学语的儿童"。理性主义内在论是该类比命题的逻辑起点,刺激贫乏是其经验支持,心智主义在心理学中的复兴则是其理论后果。该命题的提出,给行为主义予以沉重打击,为第一次认知革命的形成提供了有力的助推,确立了语言在心理学及整个认知科学中的关键地位。

The analogy of ＂children are linguists＂ is a key thesis in Chomsky＇s theory of language and psychology. There are two dimensions in this thesis： ontologically, children are regarded as the linguists who can construct a theory of grammar; methodologically, linguists should work as the children who are acquiring their mother tongue. The innateness hypothesis of rationalism constitutes the logical basis of this analogical thesis; the argument of poverty of stimulus can supply it with strong empirical support; and the revival of mentalism in psychology can be regarded as one of its theoretical consequences. After its inception, this thesis gave behaviorism a fatal blow and the first cognitive revolution a great boost, thus securing for language a key position in cognitive sciences as well as in psychology.