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The language module is a hypothetical area of the brain that governs the development of complex language systems. Its existence and location have not been proven, but it is believed to be located in the Sylvian fissure between Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. Damage to these areas can cause aphasia. The existence of a language module would have implications for ongoing discussions around language acquisition and the idea of universal grammar.
The language module is a hypothetical area of the brain dedicated to understanding and producing language. It is believed to be part of the cognitive system, but its existence and location have not been proven. If it exists, it governs the brain’s ability to develop complex language systems. It would help explain one of two important differentiations between humans and other animals: language and complex tools.
A human brain governs many of the body’s functions and is believed to be the source of consciousness. The brain is hypothetically divided into modules. A module is an area with a number of related functions such as memory, perception and movement. Studies of the functions of these modules depend largely on the effects of brain damage in specific areas of the brain and the resulting loss of function.
A language module would require cooperation from other areas of the brain. Human speech capacity appears to come from different areas of the brain, with a common area in between. This is the Sylvian fissure, which is thought to be the location of the language module. It fits between the areas of Broca and Wernicke.
Broca’s area is located towards the front of the brain, while Wernicke’s area is towards the back. Broca’s area was originally thought to be purely productive, meaning neurologists believed it produced speech. They also believed that Wernicke’s area is purely receptive in that it receives and understands linguistic information. Today, Broca’s area is also thought to play a role in understanding.
Both areas, when damaged, cause a problem called aphasia. Aphasia is where the patient is unable to connect words to objects. The effects can be total loss of speech and name recognition of the object or it can be a minor effect. Minor effects slow down the speaker’s ability to speak, as words are often lost at the tip of the tongue.
If a language module existed, it would arise when a specific area of the brain has been damaged and a patient has lost his or her language skills. The lack of such damage suggests that language comprehension and production are spread throughout the brain. The existence of a language module would also play a huge role in ongoing discussions around language acquisition. There are two main theories put forward by linguists and linguistic philosophers like Noam Chomsky. Social interaction posits that nurture and nature play a role in a child’s development, while relational frame theory (RFT) believes that language acquisition is fully nurtured.
If nature is important in language acquisition, then it suggests that the brain is pre-programmed to some degree. Chomsky believes in the idea of universal grammar. This theory suggests that the brain has a simple set of syntactic rules that it uses to process new vocabulary in children. Chomsky’s proof of this idea is the fact that all children, of various backgrounds and abilities, converge in terms of language ability by age 5. If there was a universal grammar, then a language module or some other part of the brain would have to control this function.
