Chapter 6 The biological basis of language: insights from genetic studies of developmental language disorders
Abstract
Recent decades have witnessed great methodological and technological advances in the genetic study of human diseases. These have not passed over research into the etiologies of neurodevelopmental disorders, including language disorders. However, the gap between molecular etiology and disease, in the case of language disorders in particular, is wide. One factor contributing to this is that the main disciplines that are involved in the endeavor to understand these conditions, namely, genetics, linguistics, language pathology, neurobiology, and developmental psychology, or, perhaps, researchers from those disciplines, do not necessarily speak the same language. This chapter aims to introduce, in relatively non-technical language, the basic concepts and methodologies of human genetics and genetic studies of diseases. Examples from major studies of developmental language disorders will be presented. Lastly, the use of genetics in the study of related neurodevelopmental disorders and their links with developmental language disorders will be evaluated, and future perspectives will be discussed.
Abstract
Recent decades have witnessed great methodological and technological advances in the genetic study of human diseases. These have not passed over research into the etiologies of neurodevelopmental disorders, including language disorders. However, the gap between molecular etiology and disease, in the case of language disorders in particular, is wide. One factor contributing to this is that the main disciplines that are involved in the endeavor to understand these conditions, namely, genetics, linguistics, language pathology, neurobiology, and developmental psychology, or, perhaps, researchers from those disciplines, do not necessarily speak the same language. This chapter aims to introduce, in relatively non-technical language, the basic concepts and methodologies of human genetics and genetic studies of diseases. Examples from major studies of developmental language disorders will be presented. Lastly, the use of genetics in the study of related neurodevelopmental disorders and their links with developmental language disorders will be evaluated, and future perspectives will be discussed.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
-
Section I: The biolinguistic enterprise
- Chapter 1 A short history of biolinguistics 19
- Chapter 2 Biolinguistics in the context of linguistics 45
-
Section II: The quest for interdisciplinarity and the challenges of technification
- Chapter 3 The naturalistic tradition of biolinguistics and the study of child phonology 91
- Chapter 4 Psycholinguistics and biolinguistics 119
- Chapter 5 New techniques in neurolinguistics 159
- Chapter 6 The biological basis of language: insights from genetic studies of developmental language disorders 177
-
Section III: Theorizing biolinguistics
- Chapter 7 The nature of language and the structure of reality 207
- Chapter 8 Biolinguistics and human language evolution: On symbolism, language, and language evolution 237
-
Section IV: Going practical: The applicability of biolinguistics findings
- Chapter 9 Language disorders through the lens of biolinguistics 279
- Chapter 10 Approaching language and aging from a biolinguistic perspective 307
- Chapter 11 Biolinguistics and its impact on language teaching: Achievements and prospects 331
- Chapter 12 Biocultural evolution and human language diversity 359
- Index 381
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
-
Section I: The biolinguistic enterprise
- Chapter 1 A short history of biolinguistics 19
- Chapter 2 Biolinguistics in the context of linguistics 45
-
Section II: The quest for interdisciplinarity and the challenges of technification
- Chapter 3 The naturalistic tradition of biolinguistics and the study of child phonology 91
- Chapter 4 Psycholinguistics and biolinguistics 119
- Chapter 5 New techniques in neurolinguistics 159
- Chapter 6 The biological basis of language: insights from genetic studies of developmental language disorders 177
-
Section III: Theorizing biolinguistics
- Chapter 7 The nature of language and the structure of reality 207
- Chapter 8 Biolinguistics and human language evolution: On symbolism, language, and language evolution 237
-
Section IV: Going practical: The applicability of biolinguistics findings
- Chapter 9 Language disorders through the lens of biolinguistics 279
- Chapter 10 Approaching language and aging from a biolinguistic perspective 307
- Chapter 11 Biolinguistics and its impact on language teaching: Achievements and prospects 331
- Chapter 12 Biocultural evolution and human language diversity 359
- Index 381
