Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - 2002 - Volume 25, Issue 03  


Short Communication

Is syntax a representation in itself?

Maritza Rivera-Gaxiola a1 and Juan Felipe Silva-Pereyra a1
a1 Speech and Hearing Sciences Department, Center for Mind, Brain and Learning, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98119 rivegaxi@u.washington.edu http://jfsp@u.washington.edu

Abstract

We address the issue of the nature of representations during development regarding language acquisition. The controversy of syntax as a process or operation for representation formation and syntax as a representation in itself is discussed. Eliminating the cognitive unconscious does not warrant a simplified, more parsimonious approach to human cognition in general.