More Than Words: The Role of Multiword Sequences in Language Learning and Use

Topics in Cognitive Science
Morten H Christiansen, Inbal Arnon

Abstract

The ability to convey our thoughts using an infinite number of linguistic expressions is one of the hallmarks of human language. Understanding the nature of the psychological mechanisms and representations that give rise to this unique productivity is a fundamental goal for the cognitive sciences. A long-standing hypothesis is that single words and rules form the basic building blocks of linguistic productivity, with multiword sequences being treated as units only in peripheral cases such as idioms. The new millennium, however, has seen a shift toward construing multiword linguistic units not as linguistic rarities, but as important building blocks for language acquisition and processing. This shift-which originated within theoretical approaches that emphasize language learning and use-has far-reaching implications for theories of language representation, processing, and acquisition. Incorporating multiword units as integral building blocks blurs the distinction between grammar and lexicon; calls for models of production and comprehension that can accommodate and give rise to the effect of multiword information on processing; and highlights the importance of such units to learning. In this special topic, we bring together cutti...Continue Reading

References

Mar 24, 2010·Journal of Child Language·Padraic Monaghan, Morten H Christiansen
Apr 15, 2015·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Morten H Christiansen, Nick Chater
Aug 12, 2015·Scientific Reports·Jake Ryland WilliamsPeter Sheridan Dodds
Feb 25, 2017·Topics in Cognitive Science·Nick C Ellis, Dave C Ogden
Mar 8, 2017·Topics in Cognitive Science·Peter W CulicoverJenny Audring
Mar 21, 2017·Topics in Cognitive Science·Kristina GeeraertR Harald Baayen
Apr 20, 2017·Topics in Cognitive Science·Anna Theakston, Elena Lieven
May 10, 2017·Topics in Cognitive Science·Stewart M McCauley, Morten H Christiansen
Jun 18, 2017·Topics in Cognitive Science·Inbal Arnon, Morten H Christiansen

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Citations

Jun 18, 2017·Topics in Cognitive Science·Inbal Arnon, Morten H Christiansen
May 10, 2017·Topics in Cognitive Science·Stewart M McCauley, Morten H Christiansen
Apr 10, 2018·Topics in Cognitive Science·Morten H Christiansen
Nov 7, 2018·Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR·James W MontgomeryRonald B Gillam
May 18, 2018·Topics in Cognitive Science·Ray Jackendoff, Jenny Audring
Oct 1, 2020·Cognitive Science·Hajnal JolsvaiMorten H Christiansen
Jul 1, 2020·Journal of Child Language·Naomi Havron, Inbal Arnon
Dec 23, 2020·Cognitive Science·Ingeborg RoeteMarisa Casillas
Sep 30, 2021·Cerebral Cortex·Jeremy I SkipperDaniel R Lametti

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