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Christiansen & Chater (C&C) ignore the many linguistic universals that cannot be reduced to processing or cognitive constraints, some of which we present. Their claim that grammar is merely acquired language processing skill cannot account for such universals. Their claim that all other universal properties are historically and culturally based is a nonsequitur about language evolution, lacking data.

We discuss and debunk five common assumptions about the interrelation of semantics, syntax, and frequency during sentence processing. In the course of this, we explore the implications of the view that syntax is assigned as the last stage of comprehension rather than the first: Statistically based perceptual strategies propose an initial semantic representation, which then constrains the assignment of syntactic representations. This view accounts for a variety of facts, as well as suggesting some surprising new ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the vocal development and its relation to the study of language development in children. The vocal development of normal babies is closely followed from birth by nonparticipant observation. These observations are usually made from the child's own home. Through maturational and environmental influences, a detailed study of the child's development makes it possible to relate vocal development to its other aspects. The study of the verbal aspects of communication of children could be linked to the pathology and psychotherapy of schizophrenia.