A Theory of Language Acquisition Based on General Learning Principles

Abstract

A simulation model IS described for the acquisihon of the control of syntax in language generation. Tlus model makes use of general learning principles and general principles of cognihon. Language generahon is modelled as a problem solving process involving principly the decomposihon of a tobe-commumcated semantic structure into a hierarchy of subunits for generation. The syntax of the language controls !Ius decomposition. It is shown bow a sentence and semantic structure can he compared to infer the decomposition that led to the sentence. The learning processes involve generalizing rules to classes . of words, learning by discnmination the various contextual constraints on a rule application, and a strength process which monitors a rule's history of success and failure. This system is shown to apply to the learning of noun declensions in Latin, relative clause constructions in French. and verb auxiliary structures in English.