Putting language back in the body: speech and gesture on three time frames.
This article investigates the role that nonverbal actions play in language processing over 3 different time frames. First, we speculate that nonverbal actions played a role in how formal language systems emerged from our primate ancestors over evolutionary time. Next, we hypothesize that if nonverbal behaviors played a foundational role in the emergence of language over evolution, these actions should influence how children learn language in the present. Finally, we argue that nonverbal actions continue to play a role for adults in the moment-to-moment processing of language. Throughout, we take an embodied view of language and argue that the neural, cognitive, and social components of language processing are firmly grounded in bodily action.
Kelly
Spencer D
SD
Department of Psychology-Neuroscience Program, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA. skelly@mail.colgate.edu
Iverson
Jana M
JM
Terranova
Joseph
J
Niego
Julia
J
Hopkins
Michael
M
Goldsmith
Leslie
L
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D032882:Comprehension; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D005868:Gestures; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007804:Language Development; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D019579:Neocortex / Q000502:physiology; D009633:Nonverbal Communication / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology