The Dissenter cover image

The Dissenter

#1039 Jonathan Bobaljik: Linguistics, Morphology, Syntax, and Universal Grammar

Dec 30, 2024
In this engaging conversation, Jonathan Bobaljik, a Harvard linguistics professor and author of 'Universals in Comparative Morphology,' dives deep into the fascinating realms of morphology and syntax. He discusses the relationship between morphemes and their meanings, showcasing experiments like the WUG test which reveal children's innate grasp of language. The dialogue also tackles Universal Grammar, challenging traditional theories and exploring cognitive constraints in language learning, while highlighting cross-linguistic comparisons that enrich our understanding of linguistic structures.
54:22

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Morphology reveals how morphemes combine to form words, illustrating the universal rules governing language structure across different cultures.
  • The interplay between cognition and language acquisition in children, as shown in the WUG test, emphasizes innate grammatical understanding rather than solely learned behavior.

Deep dives

Understanding Morphology

Morphology is the study of the structure and form of words in a language. It investigates how smaller units called morphemes, which are the minimal pairings of form and meaning, come together to create complex words. An example discussed is the word 'unlockable', which illustrates how the prefix 'un-' indicates negation and the suffix '-able' indicates capability. This area of study allows linguists to understand the rules and constraints that govern word formation across different languages.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode