普遍文法（，縮寫為 ），又譯為普遍語法，一種語言學理論，最有名的提倡者為喬姆斯基。這個理論認為在人類能夠學習到各種文法的普遍能力，是內建在大腦中的。它可以用來解釋語言習得的一般過程，說明兒童在發展語言時，使用同一個法則，來學習不同的語言。

這個想法最早可以追溯到英國的哲學家培根。最早提出這個理論的語言學家，是喬姆斯基、薩丕爾、與理查德·蒙塔古。

培根及早期哲學家

喬姆斯基的理論 
20世纪80年代初，乔姆斯基和其他一些语言学家提出了普遍语法理论，也称为原则与参数理论。

喬姆斯基認為，人類的大腦，只使用幾組固定的規則來組織語言。所以，他假設所有的語言，在底層都擁有相同的文法結構。這幾組有限的規則，稱為普遍文法（universal grammar）。

他们认为，普遍语法是人类所特有的语言知识体系，存在于正常人的大脑中。根据这一原则和参数体系，普遍语法包括一套普遍原则，利用这些原则，可以不断合成短语；普遍语法还含有一系列参数，这些参数可以帮助和指导普遍原则更好地操作。

參考文獻

Baker, Mark C. The Atoms of Language: The Mind's Hidden Rules of Grammar. Oxford University Press, 2003. .
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Chomsky, N. Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. MIT Press, 1965. .
Elman, J., Bates, E. et al. Rethinking innateness. MIT Press, 1996.
Harris, James. Hermes or A Philosophical Inquiry Concerning Universal Grammar. (1751, 1771.)
Kliesch, C. (2012). Making sense of syntax – Innate or acquired? Contrasting universal grammar with other approaches to language acquisition. Journal of European Psychology Students, 3, 88–94,
"Of Universal Grammar". In "Grammar". Encyclopædia Britannica, (1771).
Pesetsky, David. "Linguistic Universals and Universal Grammar" . In The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences. Ed. Robert A. Wilson and Frank C. Keil Cambridge, MA: MIT Press 1999.
Sampson, G. The "Language Instinct" Debate. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005. .
Smith, Adam. "Considerations Concerning the First Formation of Languages". In Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres. Ed. J. C. Bryce. Indianapolis: Liberty Press, 1983, 203–226.
Smith, Adam. "Of the Origin and Progress of Language". Lecture 3, Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres. Ed. J. C. Bryce. Indianapolis: Liberty Press, 1983, 9–13.
Tomasello, M. Constructing a Language: A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquisition. Harvard University Press, 2003. .
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White, Lydia. "Second Language Acquisition and Universal Grammar". Cambridge University Press, 2003. 
Zuidema, Willem. How the poverty of stimulus solves the poverty of stimulus. "Evolution of Language: Fourth International Conference", Harvard University, March 2002.
 http://ling.auf.net/lingBuzz/000100 
 
 Chomsky, Noam: Rules and Representations. Columbia University Press, New York 1980.
 Chomsky, Noam: Lectures on Government and Binding. Foris, Dordrecht, 1981.
 Chomsky, Noam: The Minimalist Program. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1995.
 Christiansen, M. H.; Chater, N. (2008): Language as shaped by the brain.  In: Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 31(05): 489–509 (PDF-Datei; 928 kB)
 Evans, N.; Levinson, S. C. (2009): The myth of language universals: Language diversity and its importance for cognitive science. In: Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 32(05): 429–448 (PDF-Datei; 717 kB)
 Tomasello, M. (1995): Language is not an instinct. In: Cognitive Development, 10, 131–156 (PDF-Datei; 1,9 MB)
 Tomasello, Michael: Constructing a Language. A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquistion. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2003.
 Evans, Vyvyan: The Language Myth: Why Language Is Not an Instinct. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2014. ISBN 978-1-107-61975-3.

 外部連結 
 Pesetsky, David.  "Linguistic Universals and Universal Grammar" .  In The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences''. Ed. Robert A. Wilson and Frank C. Keil Cambridge, MA: MIT Press 1999.

参见 

 Applicative universal grammar
 布若卡氏区
 生成文法
 Linguistic universal
 母語
 優選理論
 语言的起源
 Principles and parameters
 先天論
 Universal Networking Language

语法