Constructing a Language : A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquisition

@book{citeulike:543401, abstract = {{<p> In this groundbreaking book, Michael Tomasello presents a comprehensive usage-based theory of language acquisition. Drawing together a vast body of empirical research in cognitive science, linguistics, and developmental psychology, Tomasello demonstrates that we don't need a self-contained "language instinct" to explain how children learn language. Their linguistic ability is interwoven with other cognitive abilities. </p><p> Tomasello argues that the essence of language is its symbolic dimension, which rests on the uniquely human ability to comprehend intention. Grammar emerges as the speakers of a language create linguistic constructions out of recurring sequences of symbols; children pick up these patterns in the buzz of words they hear around them. </p><p> All theories of language acquisition assume these fundamental skills of intention-reading and pattern-finding. Some formal linguistic theories posit a second set of acquisition processes to connect somehow with an innate universal grammar. But these extra processes, Tomasello argues, are completely unnecessary--important to save a theory but not to explain the phenomenon. </p><p> For all its empirical weaknesses, Chomskian generative grammar has ruled the linguistic world for forty years. <i>Constructing a Language</i> offers a compellingly argued, psychologically sound new vision for the study of language acquisition. </p>}}, author = {Tomasello, Michael }, citeulike-article-id = {543401}, howpublished = {Paperback}, isbn = {674017641}, keywords = {cognition, language-acquisition}, month = {March}, posted-at = {2006-03-13 08:39:07}, priority = {4}, publisher = {{Harvard University Press}}, title = {Constructing a Language : A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquisition}, url = {http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=citeulike09-20\&amp;path=ASIN/0674017641}, year = {2005} }

TY - BOOK ID - citeulike:543401 L3 - citeulike-article-id:543401 TI - Constructing a Language : A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquisition PB - {Harvard University Press} SN - 674017641 N2 - {<p> In this groundbreaking book, Michael Tomasello presents a comprehensive usage-based theory of language acquisition. Drawing together a vast body of empirical research in cognitive science, linguistics, and developmental psychology, Tomasello demonstrates that we don't need a self-contained "language instinct" to explain how children learn language. Their linguistic ability is interwoven with other cognitive abilities. </p><p> Tomasello argues that the essence of language is its symbolic dimension, which rests on the uniquely human ability to comprehend intention. Grammar emerges as the speakers of a language create linguistic constructions out of recurring sequences of symbols; children pick up these patterns in the buzz of words they hear around them. </p><p> All theories of language acquisition assume these fundamental skills of intention-reading and pattern-finding. Some formal linguistic theories posit a second set of acquisition processes to connect somehow with an innate universal grammar. But these extra processes, Tomasello argues, are completely unnecessary--important to save a theory but not to explain the phenomenon. </p><p> For all its empirical weaknesses, Chomskian generative grammar has ruled the linguistic world for forty years. <i>Constructing a Language</i> offers a compellingly argued, psychologically sound new vision for the study of language acquisition. </p>} KW - cognition KW - language-acquisition AU - Tomasello, Michael PY - 2005/03/31/ UR - http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=citeulike09-20&amp;path=ASIN/0674017641 ER -