Could an autonomous syntax module have evolved?
Darwinian evolution necessitates a contribution to reproductive fitness. Recent studies of aphasia and Parkinson's disease show that functional syntactic ability involves neural structures that also are involved in speech motor control and nonlinguistic cognition. The evolution or presence of an autonomous syntax module is, therefore, implausible.
Lieberman
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Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences, Brown University.
D001039:Aphasia, Broca / Q000503:physiopathology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological