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What’s Special About Human Language? The Contents of the “Narrow Language Faculty” Revisited
Author(s) -
Traxler Matthew J.,
Boudewyn Megan,
Loudermilk Jessica
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
language and linguistics compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.619
H-Index - 44
ISSN - 1749-818X
DOI - 10.1002/lnc3.355
Subject(s) - recursion (computer science) , grammar , property (philosophy) , universal grammar , linguistics , minimalist program , computer science , representation (politics) , human language , cognitive science , psychology , philosophy , programming language , epistemology , politics , political science , law
Abstract In this review, we re‐evaluate the recursion‐only hypothesis, advocated by Fitch, Hauser and Chomsky (Fitch et al. 2005; Hauser et al. 2002). According to the recursion‐only hypothesis, the property that distinguishes human language from animal communication systems is recursion, which refers to the potentially infinite embedding of one linguistic representation within another of the same type. This hypothesis predicts (1) that non‐human primates and other animals lack the ability to learn recursive grammar, and (2) that recursive grammar is the sole cognitive mechanism that is unique to human language. We first review animal studies of recursive grammar, before turning to the claim that recursion is a property of all human languages. Finally, we discuss other views on what abilities may be unique to human language.