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The syntactic motor system

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Abstract

The human brain has mechanisms that can support production and perception of language. We ground the evolution of these mechanisms in primate systems that support manual dexterity, especially the mirror system that integrates execution and observation of hand movements. We relate the motor theory of speech perception to the mirror system hypothesis for language and evolution; explore links between manual actions and speech; contrast “language” in apes with language in humans; show in what sense the “syntax” implemented in Broca’s area is a “motor syntax” far more general than the syntax of linguistics; and relate communicative goals to sentential form.

Abstract

The human brain has mechanisms that can support production and perception of language. We ground the evolution of these mechanisms in primate systems that support manual dexterity, especially the mirror system that integrates execution and observation of hand movements. We relate the motor theory of speech perception to the mirror system hypothesis for language and evolution; explore links between manual actions and speech; contrast “language” in apes with language in humans; show in what sense the “syntax” implemented in Broca’s area is a “motor syntax” far more general than the syntax of linguistics; and relate communicative goals to sentential form.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. About the Authors ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Evolution of language and the role of gestural communication
  6. The syntactic motor system 7
  7. Part II. Gestural communication in nonhuman primates
  8. The gestural communication of apes 37
  9. Gestural communication in three species of macaques ( Macaca mulatta , M. nemestrina , M. arctoides ) 53
  10. Multimodal concomitants of manual gesture by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) 69
  11. Requesting gestures in captive monkeys and apes 83
  12. Cross-fostered chimpanzees modulate signs of American Sign Language 97
  13. Part III. Gestural communication in human primates
  14. Human twelve-month-olds point cooperatively to share interest with and helpfully provide information for a communicative partner 123
  15. From action to language through gesture 141
  16. The link and differences between deixis and symbols in children’s early gestural-vocal system 163
  17. A cross-cultural comparison of communicative gestures in human infants during the transition to language 183
  18. How does linguistic framing of events influence co-speech gestures? 199
  19. The two faces of gesture 219
  20. Part IV. Future directions
  21. Gestures in human and nonhuman primates 237
  22. Book Review
  23. Michael C. Corballis (2002). From hand to mouth. The origins of language 261
  24. Index 281
Gestural Communication in Nonhuman and Human Primates
This chapter is in the book Gestural Communication in Nonhuman and Human Primates
https://doi.org/10.1075/bct.10.03roy

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. About the Authors ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Evolution of language and the role of gestural communication
  6. The syntactic motor system 7
  7. Part II. Gestural communication in nonhuman primates
  8. The gestural communication of apes 37
  9. Gestural communication in three species of macaques ( Macaca mulatta , M. nemestrina , M. arctoides ) 53
  10. Multimodal concomitants of manual gesture by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) 69
  11. Requesting gestures in captive monkeys and apes 83
  12. Cross-fostered chimpanzees modulate signs of American Sign Language 97
  13. Part III. Gestural communication in human primates
  14. Human twelve-month-olds point cooperatively to share interest with and helpfully provide information for a communicative partner 123
  15. From action to language through gesture 141
  16. The link and differences between deixis and symbols in children’s early gestural-vocal system 163
  17. A cross-cultural comparison of communicative gestures in human infants during the transition to language 183
  18. How does linguistic framing of events influence co-speech gestures? 199
  19. The two faces of gesture 219
  20. Part IV. Future directions
  21. Gestures in human and nonhuman primates 237
  22. Book Review
  23. Michael C. Corballis (2002). From hand to mouth. The origins of language 261
  24. Index 281
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