for a discussion). The main problem is that these models are based on
underlying assumptions that may no longer be tenable:
Language processing is modular: it is carried out by a number of cogni-
tive modules that have their own specific input and output and that
function more or less autonomously.
Language processing is incremental and there is no internal feedback or
feedforward.
Isolated elements (phonemes, words, sentences) are studied without
taking into account the larger linguistics and social context they are part of.
For language production: based on individual monologue rather than
interaction as the default speaking situation.
Language processing involves operations on invariant and abstract
representations.
Because of these underlying assumptions, isolated elements (phonemes,
words, sentences) are studied without taking into account the larger linguistic and
social context they are part of. Also, the models are static and steady state models
in which change over time has no role to play. Moreover, studies are based on
individual monologue rather than interaction as the default speaking situation.
Within the tradition such models are part of, these characteristics may be
unproblematic, but in recent years new perspectives on cognition have
developed that lead to a different view. The most important development is
the emergence of the dynamic perspective on cognition in general and lan-
guage processing in particular. The most important tenet is that any open
complex system (such as the bilingual mind) interacts continuously with its
environment and will continuously change over time. With these notions in
mind, let us look at each characteristic of traditional models as outlined
above in more detail:
Language processing is modular: it is carried out by a number of cogni-
tive modules that have their own specific input and output and that
function more or less autonomously.
The most outspoken opponent of a modular approach to cognitive pro-
cessing at the moment is probably Michael Spivey in his bookThe Continuity
of Mind(2007). His main argument is that there is substantial evidence
against the existence of separate modules for specific cognitive activities,
such as face recognition and object recognition. For linguistic theories this is
crucial, since in UG based theories a separate and innate language module
plays a central role. Distributed processing of language undermines the idea
that language is uniquely human and innate because the cooperating parts of
the brain are not unique for language and have no specific linguistic knowledge.
Language processing is incremental and there is no internal feedback or
feedforward.
Trends III 91