3min chapter

The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast cover image

241. How Anti-Racism Is Hurting Black America | John McWhorter

The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

CHAPTER

Is There a Grammar Tree That Underlies Language?

The idea that there is a universal grammar that we're born with underlies all languages is utterly fascinating. But the odd thing is that when you actually try to find what these universal grammar specifications are, they could plausibly be encoded in our genes and be subject to natural selection. All cognitively normal human beings learn to speak, fluidly, fluently, idiomatically, and without effort. Obviously, that's programmed in some way. There's clearly something, but I hate to say whatever it is is much less interesting than there being this intricate and suspiciously computer science like universal grammar in our brains.

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