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"1.1 Linguistic and syntactic competence We language users believe that we 'know' a language, but the question is what we know when we know a language like English or Korean. It may mean that we know how to create natural English sentences like (1a), but not unnatural sentences like (1b).1 (1) a. We can't pay for health care benefits like this, but you can. b. *We can't keep paying for health care benefits like this, but you can keep.2 In the same way, speakers who know English may accept (2a) and (2c), but not (2b):3 (2) a. Frank sneezed. b. *Frank sneezed the napkin. c. Frank sneezed the napkin off the table. This implies that knowing a language means that (English) speakers have linguistic knowledge sufficient to distinguish between 'acceptable' and 'unacceptable' sentences. However, when speakers are asked to articulate what kind of knowledge allows them to make these distinctions, it is not easy for them to describe it. This knowledge of language, often called linguistic competence, is the ability to speak a language. Knowing one's native language requires neither skill nor talent, but it is nonetheless an accomplishment worthy of investigation"--