title: On the similarity between syntax and actions.
abstract: One of the major discoveries in the history of 20th century linguistics is that the linear sequence of words constituting a sentence is organized in a hierarchical and recursive fashion. Is this hierarchical structure similar to action and motor planning, as recent proposals suggest? Some crucial differences are highlighted on both theoretical and empirical grounds that make this parallel unsuitable, with far-reaching consequences for evolutionary perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Study IUSS Pavia, Piazza Vittoria 15, 27100 Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.moro@iusspavia.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008037:Linguistics; D008251:Macaca; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009043:Motor Activity