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An innate language faculty needs neither modularity nor localization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Derek Bickerton
Affiliation:
Department of Linguistics, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hl 96822. derek@hawaii.edu

Abstract

Müller misconstrues autonomy to mean strict locality of brain function, something quite different from the functional autonomy that linguists claim. Similarly, he misperceives the interaction of learned and innate components hypothesized in current generative models. Evidence from sign languages, Creole languages, and neurological studies of rare forms of aphasia also argues against his conclusions.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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