Simplicity and Specificity in Language: Domain-General Biases Have Domain-Specific Effects

Frontiers in Psychology
Jennifer Culbertson, Simon Kirby

Abstract

The extent to which the linguistic system-its architecture, the representations it operates on, the constraints it is subject to-is specific to language has broad implications for cognitive science and its relation to evolutionary biology. Importantly, a given property of the linguistic system can be "specific" to the domain of language in several ways. For example, if the property evolved by natural selection under the pressure of the linguistic function it serves then the property is domain-specific in the sense that its design is tailored for language. Equally though, if that property evolved to serve a different function or if that property is domain-general, it may nevertheless interact with the linguistic system in a way that is unique. This gives a second sense in which a property can be thought of as specific to language. An evolutionary approach to the language faculty might at first blush appear to favor domain-specificity in the first sense, with individual properties of the language faculty being specifically linguistic adaptations. However, we argue that interactions between learning, culture, and biological evolution mean any domain-specific adaptations that evolve will take the form of weak biases rather than har...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 1, 2017·Open Mind : Discoveries in Cognitive Science·Jennifer Culbertson, Elissa L Newport
Aug 21, 2019·Nature Human Behaviour·Dan DediuScott R Moisik
Mar 23, 2019·Cognitive Science·James Winters, Olivier Morin
Sep 6, 2018·Topics in Cognitive Science·Kenny Smith
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Dec 21, 2018·Cognition·Vanessa FerdinandKenny Smith
Aug 12, 2021·Cognitive Science·Fausto CarcassiJakub Szymanik

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