Variation and Universals in Biolinguistics / Lyle Jenkins.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jenkins, Lyle, author.

Series:

North Holland Linguistic Series: Linguistic Variations ; 62.

North Holland Linguistic Series: Linguistic Variations ; 62

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biolinguistics.

Language and languages--Variation.

Language and languages.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (448 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden; Boston : BRILL, 2004.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"Jenkins has succeeded in putting together a terrific volume. Some of the most creative minds in the fields tackle questions of utmost importance in biolinguistics. The clarity with which these essays are written and the insights expressed in them are sure to provide solid foundations for research in linguistics and related fields for years to come. A truly outstanding collection!" - Cedric Boeckx, Harvard University, USA This book provides a current and interdisciplinary overview of work on the biology of language - what is sometimes called the "biolinguistic approach." A wide range of areas are investigated and reviewed by specialists: the micro-parametric theory of syntax, models of language acquisition and historical change, dynamical systems in language, genetics of populations, pragmatics of discourse, language neurology, genetic disorders of language, sign language, and evolution of language. It focuses on the interplay between variation and the universal properties of language. Detailed surveys or case studies are provided from the areas of syntactic variation, genetic variation, neurological variation and historical variation, among others, and of the universal principles and theoretical models that underlie the variation. Finally, it considers-in addition to the detailed empirical studies-philosophical, foundational and methodological issues in the study of the biology of language and its place within the natural sciences; e.g., innateness, modularity, language design and unification in biolinguistics, as well as critiques of the approach.

Contents:

VARIATION IN TYPOLOGY, ACQUISITION AND CHANGE

VARIATION IN GENETICS AND DOMAIN SPECIFICITY

NEUROLOGICAL VARIATION AND LANGUAGE EMERGENCE

VARIATION IN DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS

UNIFICATION OF LINGUISTICS INTO THE NATURAL SCIENCES.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786610967193

9781280967191

1280967196

9780080474748

0080474748

OCLC:

476042276

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9780080474748 DOI