The cognitive infrastructure of language
- V. 19, N. 2 (2020)
- Submitted: Jun 16, 2020
- Published: Jul 31, 2020
- DOI 10.25189/rabralin.v19i2.1522
Abstract
Michael Tomasello, one of the most influential scholars dedicated to the study of language evolution and acquisition, in his online lecture to Abralin ao vivo, presents his thesis that human communication capacity is prior to language development and is fundamental to explain our linguistic ability. That is, a capacity for human communication, which emcompasses a variety of general cognitive skills — such as cooperation, inference of intentions, deciphering gestures contextually, which requires the recognition of common ground and joint attention — are the conditions which can create or support a complex human language. In addition, the author demonstrates how gestures (e.g., pointing) are used in a sophisticated way by children, but not by non-human primates. Thus, the author argues that gestures, supported by the human communicative infrastructure, can give rise to grammatical conventions.
References
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COMMUNICATION Before Language. Conferência apresentada por Michael Tomasello [s.l., s.n], 2020. 1 vídeo (1h 17min 35s). Publicado pelo canal da Associação Brasileira de Linguística. Disponível em: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46IrwGZpDQ4&t=594s. Acesso em 13 jun, 2020.