sensorimotor experience and language

[Jordan Zlatev]

Dear Info-childes readers,

In reading Piattelli-Palmarini's (1979) book presenting the debate between
Piaget and Chomsky I came upon an interesting issue that I would like to
ask if anyone can say anything about.

Namely, following Inhelder's presentation, Monod (p.140) brings up "an
experiment that is theoretically very simple: if the development of
language in the child is closely related to sensorimotor experience, one
can suppose that a child born paraplegic ... would have very great
difficulties in developing language." Inhelder (and everyone else) admit
that they are not aware of any systematic evidence and Chomsky eventually
states bluntly that "my own prediction is that it would turn out that there
is no relations whatsoever, or at least the most marginal relation, between
even extreme defects that would make it virtually impossible to develop and
do all the things that Piaget was discussing, and his acquisition of
language." (171)

This was more than 20 years ago. Does anyone know about any systematic
evidence now? If I get many replies I will summarize in a future posting.

Greetings,

Jordan Zlatev
Cognitive Science
Lund University
Kungshuset, Lundagård
222 22 Lund, Sweden

tel. : (+46) (0)46-222 0926
email: Jordan.Zlatev at lucs.lu.se
http://www.lucs.lu.se/People/Jordan.Zlatev/