Which example illustrates universal grammar concepts?

Which example illustrates universal grammar concepts?

• A. Subject omission switch (Spanish allows omitting the subject; English does not)
• B. Tense consistency across languages
• C. Word order is identical in all languages
• D. Pronunciation is the same across languages

Answer: (A)

Universal grammar concepts center on an innate linguistic framework with parameters that can vary across languages. The subject-omission example highlights this idea: some languages, like Spanish, are pro-drop and omit subjects when the verb form already signals who is being talked about, while others, like English, require an overt subject. This shows how the same underlying grammatical system can realize surface differences through parameter settings, rather than claiming all languages are identical in structure. The other ideas don’t fit as well. Tense systems differ across languages, word orders are not identical everywhere, and pronunciation varies widely between languages—none of these describe the idea of a shared underlying grammar with adjustable parameters.

Universal grammar concepts center on an innate linguistic framework with parameters that can vary across languages. The subject-omission example highlights this idea: some languages, like Spanish, are pro-drop and omit subjects when the verb form already signals who is being talked about, while others, like English, require an overt subject. This shows how the same underlying grammatical system can realize surface differences through parameter settings, rather than claiming all languages are identical in structure.

The other ideas don’t fit as well. Tense systems differ across languages, word orders are not identical everywhere, and pronunciation varies widely between languages—none of these describe the idea of a shared underlying grammar with adjustable parameters.