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Communicative competence and the architecture of the mind/brain
1Centro di Scienza Cognitiva, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy. tirassa@psych.unito.it
Brain and Language
|August 11, 1999
Summary
This study explores cognitive pragmatics, focusing on mental processes in intentional communication. It argues communication is a domain-specific cognitive faculty, supported by limited neuropsychological evidence.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive science
- Linguistics
- Philosophy of mind
Background:
- Cognitive pragmatics examines the mental processes underlying intentional communication.
- Understanding the mind-brain architecture is crucial for communication theories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the relationship between cognitive pragmatics and broader cognitive science.
- To defend mentalist views of communication, specifically that it is a domain-specific cognitive faculty.
- To review existing neuropsychological evidence relevant to these concepts.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of mentalist theories of communication.
- Examination of mind-brain architecture underlying communication.
- Review of neuropsychological studies bearing on cognitive pragmatics.
Main Results:
- Mentalist perspectives offer a robust framework for understanding communication.
- Communication is proposed as a distinct cognitive competence (faculty).
- The mind-brain architecture is likely domain-specific.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive pragmatics is best understood through a mentalist, faculty-based approach.
- Domain-specific cognitive architecture supports the view of communication as a faculty.
- Further neuropsychological research is needed to strengthen these conclusions.