From “Superorganic” to “Superorganismic”. A Possible Dialogue Between the Humanities and the Neurosciences on the (Model of) Language

Antonio Perri

Abstract


Abstract: The aim of this paper is to briefly assess, from the point of view of a linguist, the main contributions that experimental results and theoretical assumptions in neuropsychology have made to linguistics. The “neuromaniacal” fascination witnessed over the last three decades in linguistics is often bitterly criti-cized, suggesting a different approach to building a promising dialogue between the humanities and neurosciences – one sheltered from reductionism, which has proved so detrimental to many of the approaches developed so far.

Keywords: Models of Language; Biological Foundations of Language; Localizationism; Anthropological Linguistics; Superorganic vs Superorganismic Approaches to Language.


Da superorganico a superorganismico. Un possibile dialogo fra scienze umane e neuroscienze sul (modello di) linguaggio

Riassunto: L’articolo presenta un sintetico giudizio, formulato dal punto di vista di un linguista, circa gli apporti che le acquisizioni sperimentali e gli assunti teorici della neuropsicologia hanno offerto alla linguistica. Dopo aver aspramente criticato l’atteggiamento “neuromaniaco” prevalso nella linguistica dell’ultimo trentennio, si ipotizza l’avvento di un promettente dialogo fra scienze umane e neuroscienze fondato su presupposti diversi, e soprattutto in grado di sottrarsi al riduzionismo che ha recato danni notevoli a molti approcci proposti sinora.

Parole chiave: Fondamenti biologici del linguaggio; Localizzazionismo; Antropologia del linguaggio; Approcci “superorganici” vs “superorganismici” allo studio del linguaggio.


Parole chiave


Models of Language; Biological Foundations of Language; Localizationism; Anthropological Linguistics; Superorganic vs Superorganismic Approaches to Language.

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Riferimenti bibliografici


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4453/rifp.2013.0017

Copyright (c) 2013 Antonio Perri

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