Language, Cognition & Computation

by Albert Major

Article 1 (Hauser, Chomsky, Fitch - 2002)

• Proposes that language shares some features with animal communication but also has uniquely human aspects.
• Introduces two levels of language processing:
  • Faculty of Language in the Broad Sense (FLB): Includes sensory-motor functions (hearing and speaking) and conceptual-intentional systems (thinking and planning). These are shared with animals.
  • Faculty of Language in the Narrow Sense (FLN): The ability to use recursion, which allows complex sentence structures and abstract thought. This is unique to humans.
• Example: Vervet Monkeys
  • Use distinct calls for different predators (e.g., one call for a snake, another for an eagle).
  • This is communication, but it lacks recursion (they cannot combine calls to create new meanings).
• Example: Cotton-top Tamarins
  • Can recognize rhythmic differences in speech (similar to how human infants respond to language patterns).
  • Shows that some auditory processing abilities are shared with animals but does not prove they understand language.

Article 2 (Berwick, Chomsky, et al. - 2013)

• Argues that human language is fundamentally different from animal communication.
• Identifies recursion as the key distinction: humans can embed phrases within phrases indefinitely.
• Introduces "Merge," a computational process that allows words to combine into hierarchical structures with no extra effort.
• Neurolinguistic Evidence:
  • Broca’s Area (BA 44, 45): Processes syntax (sentence structure).
  • Posterior Temporal Cortex: Processes semantics (meaning of words and phrases).
  • These brain regions are highly specialized for language, setting humans apart from animals.

Key Topics Discussed

1. Language vs. Animal Communication

• Animal communication is instinctive and fixed; human language is flexible and creative.
• Example: Honeybee Waggle Dance
  • Bees use movement patterns to communicate the location of food.
  • It follows structured rules but lacks the flexibility and generative power of human language.
• Example: Vervet Monkeys’ Calls
  • Calls are tied to immediate situations (e.g., warning calls when a predator is spotted).
  • Monkeys do not create new calls or discuss past/future events.

2. Recursion and Syntax in Language

• Recursion allows humans to create complex sentences by embedding clauses within clauses.
  • Example: "The student whom I mentioned earlier will join the lecture."
  • This hierarchical structure is absent in animal communication.