Processing Language Through the Body: The Necessity of Embodiment Processes

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Traditionally, particularly syntax and semantics seem to be thought of as independent entities inhuman cognition. One hypothesis that challenges these views is the Embodied CognitionApproach, claiming that a person's cognition is influenced by different features of the human body.This approach has been applied to different linguistic problems. The Motor Theory emphasises aparticular importance of the motor system in speech perception, suggesting that linguistic soundsare identified through articulatory patterns that are stored in the brain. On the other hand, theEmbodied Semantics Approach assumes that semantic representations in the brain are linked toperceptual and motor systems, evoking perceptual experiences when words are perceived. Whilethere is some evidence that such processes might be involved in language comprehension, theaim of my doctoral thesis would be to prove whether these processes are indeed compulsory orrather supportive. Self-evidently, this question has to be answered separately for different linguisticareas. My thesis would mainly focus on embodied semantics. Importantly, comprehensionprocesses would play a similar role as production processes, while research has mainly focussedon language comprehension so far. I am presently conducting a small experiment on embodiedsemantics in speech production in terms of a 4000 word essay being part of the MPhil programme.To determine whether embodiment is a necessary condition of human language, results of bothbehavioural methods and psychophysiological methods besides the analysis of early childlanguage might be insightful. Moreover, production as well as comprehension processes inpatients with damages to the motor cortex as well as persons with limited mobility might determinethe importance of those functions for human language knowledge and use.The investigation of embodiment processes plays a significant role not only within the field oflinguistics itself. Of course, it relates to one of its most crucial and discussed problems, namelywhether language processing is an autonomous process, determining the nature of severallinguistic models and theories. On the other hand, it is also associated with a philosophicalproblem. If it is possible to show that embodiment processes are a necessary condition of humanlanguage as a cognitive process, this would be one step to overcome traditional person-worlddualism in terms of an organism-environment mutuality and reciprocity. Moreover, a betterunderstanding of embodiment processes might be helpful to improve the therapy of differentlanguage disorders. For instance, it has already been described how the involvement ofdescriptions of the use of objects improves the performance in naming tasks by patients with tactileand optic aphasia. Similar supporting effects might be conceivable for other language disorders aswell.