Biological Foundations and Origin of Syntax
Biological Foundations and Origin of Syntax
Cite
Abstract
Syntax is arguably the most human-specific aspect of language. Despite the proto-linguistic capacities of some animals, syntax appears to be the last major evolutionary transition in humans that has some genetic basis. Yet what are the elements to a scenario that can explain such a transition? In this book, experts from linguistics, neurology and neurobiology, cognitive psychology, ecology and evolutionary biology, and computer modeling address this question. The book follows through on a growing consensus among researchers that language can be profitably separated into a number of related and interacting but largely autonomous functions, each of which may have a distinguishable evolutionary history and neurological base. The chapters argue that syntax is such a function. The book describes the current state of research on syntax in different fields, with special emphasis on areas in which the findings of particular disciplines might shed light on problems faced by other disciplines. It defines areas where consensus has been established with regard to the nature, infrastructure, and evolution of the syntax of natural languages; summarizes and evaluates contrasting approaches in areas that remain controversial; and suggests lines for future research to resolve at least some of these disputed issues.
-
Front Matter
-
Background
-
Syntactics
-
4
Some Elements of Syntactic Computations
Rizzi Luigi
-
5
The Adaptive Approach to Grammar
Givón T.
-
6
Fundamental Syntactic Phenomena and Their Putative Relation to the Brain
Kaan Edith
-
7
What Kinds of Syntactic Phenomena Must Biologists, Neurobiologists, and Computer Scientists Try to Explain and Replicate?
Tallerman Maggie and others
-
4
Some Elements of Syntactic Computations
-
Evolution
-
8
Possible Precursors of Syntactic Components in Other Species
Hilliard Austin T. andWhite Stephanie A.
-
9
What Can Developmental Language Impairment Tell Us about the Genetic Bases of Syntax?
Bishop Dorothy V. M.
-
10
What Are the Possible Biological and Genetic Foundations for Syntactic Phenomena?
Számadó Szabolcs and others
-
8
Possible Precursors of Syntactic Components in Other Species
-
Brain
-
11
Brain Circuits of Syntax
Friederici Angela D.
-
12
Neural Organization for Syntactic Processing as Determined by Effects of Lesions: Logic, Data, and Difficult Questions
Caplan David
-
13
Reflections on the Neurobiology of Syntax
Hagoort Peter
-
14
What Are the Brain Mechanisms Underlying Syntactic Operations?
Fedor Anna and others
-
11
Brain Circuits of Syntax
-
Modeling
-
15
Syntax as an Adaptation to the Learner
Kirby Simon and others
-
16
Cognition and Social Dynamics Play a Major Role in the Formation of Grammar
Steels Luc
-
17
What Can Formal or Computational Models Tell Us about How (Much) Language Shaped the Brain?
Briscoe Ted
-
18
What Can Mathematical, Computational, and Robotic Models Tell Us about the Origins of Syntax?
Jaeger Herbert and others
-
15
Syntax as an Adaptation to the Learner
-
End Matter
Sign in
Personal account
- Sign in with email/username & password
- Get email alerts
- Save searches
- Purchase content
- Activate your purchase/trial code
- Add your ORCID iD
Purchase
Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.
Purchasing informationMonth: | Total Views: |
---|---|
October 2022 | 1 |
November 2022 | 3 |
November 2022 | 3 |
November 2022 | 3 |
November 2022 | 3 |
November 2022 | 3 |
November 2022 | 3 |
November 2022 | 3 |
November 2022 | 7 |
November 2022 | 3 |
November 2022 | 3 |
November 2022 | 3 |
December 2022 | 1 |
February 2023 | 2 |
February 2023 | 1 |
February 2023 | 1 |
March 2023 | 1 |
October 2023 | 17 |
November 2023 | 4 |
December 2023 | 6 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 1 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 3 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 3 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 1 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
January 2024 | 2 |
February 2024 | 3 |
February 2024 | 1 |
July 2024 | 1 |
July 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 1 |
November 2024 | 4 |
January 2025 | 27 |
February 2025 | 2 |
March 2025 | 2 |
Get help with access
Institutional access
Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:
IP based access
Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.
Sign in through your institution
Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.
If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.
Sign in with a library card
Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.
Society Members
Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:
Sign in through society site
Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:
If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.
Sign in using a personal account
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.
Personal account
A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.
Viewing your signed in accounts
Click the account icon in the top right to:
Signed in but can't access content
Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.
Institutional account management
For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.