title: Many important language universals are not reducible to processing or cognition.
abstract: Christiansen & Chater (C&C) ignore the many linguistic universals that cannot be reduced to processing or cognitive constraints, some of which we present. Their claim that grammar is merely acquired language processing skill cannot account for such universals. Their claim that all other universal properties are historically and culturally based is a nonsequitur about language evolution, lacking data.
authors: Department of Linguistics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0028. medeiros@email.arizona.edu
authors: David P
authors: DP
authors: Medeiros
authors: Department of Linguistics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0028. massimo@email.arizona.edu http://dingo.sbs.arizona.edu/~massimo/
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Piattelli-Palmarini
authors: Department of Linguistics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0028. tgb@email.arizona.edu http://dingo.sbs.arizona.edu/~tgb/
authors: Thomas G
authors: TG
authors: Bever
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008037:Linguistics