Linguistics in Cognitive Science: The state of the art

Abstract

The special issue ofThe Linguistic Review on “The Role of Linguistics in Cognitive Science” presents a variety of viewpoints that complement or contrast with the perspective offered in Foundations of Language (Jackendoff 2002a). The present article is a response to the special issue. It discusses what it would mean to integrate linguistics into cognitive science, then shows how the parallel architecture proposed in Foundations seeks to accomplish this goal by altering certain fundamental assumptions of generative grammar. It defends this approach against criticisms both from mainstream generative grammar and from a variety of broader attacks on the generative enterprise, and it reflects on the nature of Universal Grammar. It then shows how the parallel architecture applies directly to processing and defends this construal against various critiques. Finally, it contrasts views in the special issue with that of Foundations with respect to what is unique about language among cognitive capacities, and it conjectures about the course of the evolution of the language faculty. I am honored that The Linguistic Review has suggested Foundations of Language (Jackendoff 2002a, henceforth FL) as a “unifying starting point” for discussion of the role of linguistics in cognitive science. The fruits of this discussion, a special issue of the journal (Ritter 2005b, henceforth TLR), represent a fascinating microcosm of the state of the art, offering a profusion of fields and points of view. This response to the special issue has two goals. First, I wish to reiterate the positions taken in FL, defend them against the critiques in some of the papers, and show how they bear on or even resolve issues raised by some of the others. 1 1. Several authors issue blasts against generative grammar, characterizing it purely in terms of