Is displacement possible without language? This question was addressed in a recent work by Liszkowski and colleagues (Liszkowski, Schafer, Carpenter, & Tomasello, 2009). The authors carried out an experiment to demonstrate that 12-month-old prelinguistic infants can communicate about absent entities by using pointing gestures, while chimpanzees cannot. The main hypothesis of their study is that displacement does not depend on language but is, however, exclusively human and instead depends on species-specific social-cognitive human skills. Against this hypothesis, we will argue that a symbolic representation is needed to intentionally communicate absence and that this symbolic representation is tied to language. Moreover, data on the expression of displacement in home-sign systems will be taken into consideration. In light of this data, and in opposition to Liszkowski et al.’s (2009) claim, this paper will argue that displacement gestures are not foundational to language. Instead, they predate and predict the expression of complex forms of negation because they are specifically foundational to them.
Cuccio, V., & Carapezza, M. (2015). Is displacement possible without language? Evidence from preverbal infants and chimpanzees. PHILOSOPHICAL PSYCHOLOGY, 27(3), 369-386.
Data di pubblicazione: | 2015 |
Titolo: | Is displacement possible without language? Evidence from preverbal infants and chimpanzees |
Autori: | |
Citazione: | Cuccio, V., & Carapezza, M. (2015). Is displacement possible without language? Evidence from preverbal infants and chimpanzees. PHILOSOPHICAL PSYCHOLOGY, 27(3), 369-386. |
Rivista: | |
Abstract: | Is displacement possible without language? This question was addressed in a recent work by Liszkowski and colleagues (Liszkowski, Schafer, Carpenter, & Tomasello, 2009). The authors carried out an experiment to demonstrate that 12-month-old prelinguistic infants can communicate about absent entities by using pointing gestures, while chimpanzees cannot. The main hypothesis of their study is that displacement does not depend on language but is, however, exclusively human and instead depends on species-specific social-cognitive human skills. Against this hypothesis, we will argue that a symbolic representation is needed to intentionally communicate absence and that this symbolic representation is tied to language. Moreover, data on the expression of displacement in home-sign systems will be taken into consideration. In light of this data, and in opposition to Liszkowski et al.’s (2009) claim, this paper will argue that displacement gestures are not foundational to language. Instead, they predate and predict the expression of complex forms of negation because they are specifically foundational to them. |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore M-FIL/05 - Filosofia E Teoria Dei Linguaggi |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.01 Articolo in rivista |
File in questo prodotto:
File | Descrizione | Tipologia | Licenza | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cuccio Carapezza 2013.pdf | Versione Editoriale | Administrator Richiedi una copia |