Processing Language Through the Body: The Necessity of Embodiment Processes

Traditionally, particularly syntax and semantics seem to be thought of as independent entities in
human cognition. One hypothesis that challenges these views is the Embodied Cognition
Approach, claiming that a person's cognition is influenced by different features of the human body.
This approach has been applied to different linguistic problems. The Motor Theory emphasises a
particular importance of the motor system in speech perception, suggesting that linguistic sounds
are identified through articulatory patterns that are stored in the brain. On the other hand, the
Embodied Semantics Approach assumes that semantic representations in the brain are linked to
perceptual and motor systems, evoking perceptual experiences when words are perceived. While
there is some evidence that such processes might be involved in language comprehension, the
aim of my doctoral thesis would be to prove whether these processes are indeed compulsory or
rather supportive. Self-evidently, this question has to be answered separately for different linguistic
areas. My thesis would mainly focus on embodied semantics. Importantly, comprehension
processes would play a similar role as production processes, while research has mainly focussed
on language comprehension so far. I am presently conducting a small experiment on embodied
semantics in speech production in terms of a 4000 word essay being part of the MPhil programme.
To determine whether embodiment is a necessary condition of human language, results of both
behavioural methods and psychophysiological methods besides the analysis of early child
language might be insightful. Moreover, production as well as comprehension processes in
patients with damages to the motor cortex as well as persons with limited mobility might determine
the importance of those functions for human language knowledge and use.
The investigation of embodiment processes plays a significant role not only within the field of
linguistics itself. Of course, it relates to one of its most crucial and discussed problems, namely
whether language processing is an autonomous process, determining the nature of several
linguistic models and theories. On the other hand, it is also associated with a philosophical
problem. If it is possible to show that embodiment processes are a necessary condition of human
language as a cognitive process, this would be one step to overcome traditional person-world
dualism in terms of an organism-environment mutuality and reciprocity. Moreover, a better
understanding of embodiment processes might be helpful to improve the therapy of different
language disorders. For instance, it has already been described how the involvement of
descriptions of the use of objects improves the performance in naming tasks by patients with tactile
and optic aphasia. Similar supporting effects might be conceivable for other language disorders as
well.