title: Language acquisition is model-based rather than model-free.
abstract: Christiansen & Chater (C&C) propose that learning language is learning to process language. However, we believe that the general-purpose prediction mechanism they propose is insufficient to account for many phenomena in language acquisition. We argue from theoretical considerations and empirical evidence that many acquisition tasks are model-based, and that different acquisition tasks require different, specialized models.
authors: Department of PsychologyUniversity of Southern California,3620 McClintock Ave,Los Angeles,CA 90089-1061.wang970@usc.edutmintz@usc.eduhttp://dornsife.usc.edu/tobenmintz.
authors: Felix Hao
authors: FH
authors: Wang
authors: Department of PsychologyUniversity of Southern California,3620 McClintock Ave,Los Angeles,CA 90089-1061.wang970@usc.edutmintz@usc.eduhttp://dornsife.usc.edu/tobenmintz.
authors: Toben H
authors: TH
authors: Mintz
mesh_terms: D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007804:Language Development; D007858:Learning; D008962:Models, Theoretical