Language, Innateness, and Universals

Andy Clark; Jennifer B. Misyak

doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195305432.003.0012

Language, Innateness, and Universals

Andy Clark^*, Jennifer B. Misyak

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

Using the preceding chapter as a point of departure, this chapter offers a critical perspective on the notion of innate universals. It presents a " minimal nativism" view, according to which a brain area should be seen as embodying a kind of language universal if it is genetically predisposed toward fulfilling a certain sufficiently general linguistic function, for example by virtue of its strategic connectivity. On this view, Broca's area could still count as the brain locus of a linguistic universal, even if it supports other functions beside language.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Language Universals
Editors	Morten H. Christiansen, Christopher Collins, Shimon Edelman
Place of Publication	Oxford, United Kingdom
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Pages	1-14
Number of pages	14
ISBN (Electronic)	9780199866953
ISBN (Print)	9780195305432
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195305432.003.0012
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2009
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Broca's area
Human brain
Innate universals
Language universals
Minimal nativism

Access to Document

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195305432.003.0012

Link to publication in Scopus

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Cite this

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