The Neural Basis of Language Faculties

Prat, Chantel S.

doi:10.1002/9781118133880.hop203022

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Overall, this more recent biolinguistic view on modularity is therefore much more in line with usage-based approaches. It is also consistent with, and informed by, neuroscientific evidence that linguistic processing might recruit other neural circuits for sequence processing, forming associations, working memory, and others (e.g., Prat, 2013; Christiansen and Chater, 2016; Gong et al, 2018; Hernandez et al, 2019).…”

Section: Convergence and Divergencesupporting

confidence: 82%

Constructing a Consensus on Language Evolution? Convergences and Differences Between Biolinguistic and Usage-Based Approaches

Pleyer

Hartmann

2019

Front. Psychol.

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Two of the main theoretical approaches to the evolution of language are biolinguistics and usage-based approaches. Both are often conceptualized as belonging to seemingly irreconcilable “camps.” Biolinguistic approaches assume that the ability to acquire language is based on a language-specific genetic foundation. Usage-based approaches, on the other hand, stress the importance of domain-general cognitive capacities, social cognition, and interaction. However, there have been a number of recent developments in both paradigms which suggest that biolinguistic and usage-based approaches are actually moving closer together. For example, theoretical advancements such as evo-devo and complex adaptive system theory have gained traction in the language sciences, leading to changed conceptions of issues like the relative influence of “nature” and “nurture.” In this paper, we outline points of convergence between current minimalist biolinguistic and usage-based approaches regarding four contentious issues: (1) modularity and domain specificity; (2) innateness and development; (3) cultural and biological evolution; and (4) knowledge of language and its description. We show that across both paradigms, researchers have come to increasingly embrace more complex views of these issues. They also have come to appreciate the view that biological and cultural evolution are closely intertwined, which lead to an increased amount of common ground between minimalist biolinguistics and usage-based approaches.

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Section: Convergence and Divergencesupporting

confidence: 82%