What is grammar? What is Universal Grammar?

When you  delve deep  into languages, Surprising facts can open in front of your eyes!!

Language studies reveal that Each language is organised in systematic components and structure. And when you hear about "system", what comes to your mind???

Law?

Rules?

Yes!! Here you are!! 

Grammar is set of rules that govern a language.. But the question arises, why do we need these rules? Can't we learn a language without learning its rules? 

There are two possible answers to this question: 

. The existence of grammar, is natural. It's the need of any humans.

. We can learn a language without learning its rules, provided, if it's our first language. 

Probably Noam Chomsky was the first person who introduced the "Universal Grammar" theory in 1960s. 

 Chomsky's theory of Universal Grammar explains  humans' innate ability of language acquisition. 

Children don't study their own language, its grammar. Yet they can understand and speak it from an early age. This is because, they are born with this ability of learning the language. 

this theory does not negate the importance of grammar rather, it emphasises the fact they every child is capable of learning his own language. 

For secondary languages, the study of grammar can be very vital. And even your own language grammar can become significant if you want to excel in it academically or teach it to foreign students. 

 To make it simple, grammar is the set of rules that define, how words are made, combined and spoken. Grammar isn't a subject but an umbrella term.  

Here are listed a few definition of grammar by renown  educationists:

1. Noam Chomsky: "Grammar is a set of innate rules governing the structure of language."

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3. William Strunk Jr.: "Grammar encompasses the rules guiding language usage."

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5. Ludwig Wittgenstein: "Grammar constitutes the framework dictating language structure."