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MOTOR THEORY OF LANGUAGE IN RELATION TO SYNTAX

Allott, Robin (1995) MOTOR THEORY OF LANGUAGE IN RELATION TO SYNTAX. [Book Chapter]

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Abstract

The semantic, syntactic and phonetic structures of language develop from a complex preexisting system, more specifically the preexisting motor system. Language thus emerged as an external physical expression of the neural basis for movement control. Features which made a wide range of skilled action possible - a set of elementary motor subprograms together with rules expressed in neural organization for combining subprograms into extended action sequences - were transferred to form a parallel set of programs and rules for speech and language. The already established integration of motor control with perceptual organization led directly to a systematic relation between language and the externally perceived world.

Item Type:Book Chapter
Keywords:motor control, motor theory, syntax, exaptation, action grammar, vision syntax, word categories, function words, word ordering
Subjects:Biology > Behavioral Biology
Linguistics > Syntax
ID Code:4972
Deposited By: Allott, R M
Deposited On:16 Jul 2006
Last Modified:11 Mar 2011 08:56

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