Chomsky vs Pinker: the interface between Linguistics and Evolutionary Psychology

Abstract

Chomsky and Pinker have been involved in a debate on issues concerning the nature of human language, its history, how it is acquired and how it develops. Although both represent a biological understanding of language, Chomsky with the idea of an innate universal grammar and Pinker with the vision of an evolving form of instinct, there are many differences between them, culminating in one of the most recent clashes cast, centrally, in Chomsky, Hauser & Fitch (CHF) (2002) e Fitch, Hauser & Chomsky (FHC) (2005) vs Pinker & Jackendoff (PJ) (2005a) e Jackendoff & Pinker (JP) (2005b). The items in dispute, especially about how language emerges in the human species, has caused impacts on the direction of the field of Linguistics and Evolutionary Psychology devoted to natural language. The following text describes and evaluates the debate on the agenda regarding their most specific aspects and most important consequences.