Layers, mosaic pieces, and tiers

Wendy K Wilkins

doi:10.1515/TLR.2007.021

Article

Layers, mosaic pieces, and tiers

Wendy K Wilkins

Published/Copyright: December 21, 2007

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From the journal Volume 24 Issue 4

Abstract

Progress can be made in the exploration of the evolutionary origins of language by recognizing that the language capacity in humans is comprised of many and varied interlocking pieces of a biologically based mosaic. To understand how language can be both species-specific and evolved from capacities in ancestral species it is necessary to recognize that distinct aspects of linguistic cognition probably followed distinct evolutionary paths. This paper presents reasons to support Jackendoff's notion of linguistic layers and reiterates the value of a theory of conceptual structure that involves tiers, especially distinguishing the thematic tier, involving Paths and their component parts, derived from spatial structure, and the action tier, involving Actors, derived from social cognition.

Published Online: 2007-12-21

Published in Print: 2007-12-19

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https://doi.org/10.1515/TLR.2007.021