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58 [fifty-eight]

Parts of the body

58 [fifty-eight]	Parts of the body

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Does a universal grammar exist?

When we learn a language, we also learn its grammar. When children learn their native language, this happens automatically. They don't notice that their brain is learning various rules. Despite this, they learn their native language correctly from the beginning. Given that many languages exist, many grammar systems exist too. But is there also a universal grammar? Scientists have been studying this for a long time. New studies could provide an answer. Because brain researchers have made an interesting discovery. They had test subjects study grammar rules. These subjects were language school students. They studied Japanese or Italian. Half of the grammar rules were totally fabricated. However, the test subjects didn't know that. The students were presented with sentences after studying. They had to assess whether or not the sentences were correct. While they were working through the sentences, their brains were analyzed. That is to say, the researchers measured the activity of the brain. This way they could examine how the brain reacted to the sentences. And it appears that our brain recognizes grammar! When processing speech, certain brain areas are active. The Broca Center is one of them. It is located in the left cerebrum. When the students were faced with real grammar rules, it was very active. With the fabricated rules on the other hand, the activity decreased considerably. So it could be that all grammar systems have the same basis. Then they would all follow the same principles. And these principles would be inherent in us…

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I am drawing a man.	I a_ d_a_i_g a m_n_ I am drawing a man. I a_ d______ a m___ I am drawing a man. _ __ _______ _ ____ I am drawing a man.
First the head.	F_r_t t_e h_a_. First the head. F____ t__ h____ First the head. _____ ___ _____ First the head.
The man is wearing a hat.	T_e m_n i_ w_a_i_g a h_t_ The man is wearing a hat. T__ m__ i_ w______ a h___ The man is wearing a hat. ___ ___ __ _______ _ ____ The man is wearing a hat.

One cannot see the hair.	O_e c_n_o_ s_e t_e h_i_. One cannot see the hair. O__ c_____ s__ t__ h____ One cannot see the hair. ___ ______ ___ ___ _____ One cannot see the hair.
One cannot see the ears either.	O_e c_n_o_ s_e t_e e_r_ e_t_e_. One cannot see the ears either. O__ c_____ s__ t__ e___ e______ One cannot see the ears either. ___ ______ ___ ___ ____ _______ One cannot see the ears either.
One cannot see his back either.	O_e c_n_o_ s_e h_s b_c_ e_t_e_. One cannot see his back either. O__ c_____ s__ h__ b___ e______ One cannot see his back either. ___ ______ ___ ___ ____ _______ One cannot see his back either.

I am drawing the eyes and the mouth.	I a_ d_a_i_g t_e e_e_ a_d t_e m_u_h_ I am drawing the eyes and the mouth. I a_ d______ t__ e___ a__ t__ m_____ I am drawing the eyes and the mouth. _ __ _______ ___ ____ ___ ___ ______ I am drawing the eyes and the mouth.
The man is dancing and laughing.	T_e m_n i_ d_n_i_g a_d l_u_h_n_. The man is dancing and laughing. T__ m__ i_ d______ a__ l________ The man is dancing and laughing. ___ ___ __ _______ ___ _________ The man is dancing and laughing.
The man has a long nose.	T_e m_n h_s a l_n_ n_s_. The man has a long nose. T__ m__ h__ a l___ n____ The man has a long nose. ___ ___ ___ _ ____ _____ The man has a long nose.

He is carrying a cane in his hands.	H_ i_ c_r_y_n_ a c_n_ i_ h_s h_n_s_ He is carrying a cane in his hands. H_ i_ c_______ a c___ i_ h__ h_____ He is carrying a cane in his hands. __ __ ________ _ ____ __ ___ ______ He is carrying a cane in his hands.
He is also wearing a scarf around his neck.	H_ i_ a_s_ w_a_i_g a s_a_f a_o_n_ h_s n_c_. He is also wearing a scarf around his neck. H_ i_ a___ w______ a s____ a_____ h__ n____ He is also wearing a scarf around his neck. __ __ ____ _______ _ _____ ______ ___ _____ He is also wearing a scarf around his neck.
It is winter and it is cold.	I_ i_ w_n_e_ a_d i_ i_ c_l_. It is winter and it is cold. I_ i_ w_____ a__ i_ i_ c____ It is winter and it is cold. __ __ ______ ___ __ __ _____ It is winter and it is cold.

The arms are athletic.	T_e a_m_ a_e a_h_e_i_. The arms are athletic. T__ a___ a__ a________ The arms are athletic. ___ ____ ___ _________ The arms are athletic.
The legs are also athletic.	T_e l_g_ a_e a_s_ a_h_e_i_. The legs are also athletic. T__ l___ a__ a___ a________ The legs are also athletic. ___ ____ ___ ____ _________ The legs are also athletic.
The man is made of snow.	T_e m_n i_ m_d_ o_ s_o_. The man is made of snow. T__ m__ i_ m___ o_ s____ The man is made of snow. ___ ___ __ ____ __ _____ The man is made of snow.

He is neither wearing pants nor a coat.	H_ i_ n_i_h_r w_a_i_g p_n_s n_r a c_a_. He is neither wearing pants nor a coat. H_ i_ n______ w______ p____ n__ a c____ He is neither wearing pants nor a coat. __ __ _______ _______ _____ ___ _ _____ He is neither wearing pants nor a coat.
But the man is not freezing.	B_t t_e m_n i_ n_t f_e_z_n_. But the man is not freezing. B__ t__ m__ i_ n__ f________ But the man is not freezing. ___ ___ ___ __ ___ _________ But the man is not freezing.
He is a snowman.	H_ i_ a s_o_m_n_ He is a snowman. H_ i_ a s_______ He is a snowman. __ __ _ ________ He is a snowman.

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Does a universal grammar exist?

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