Language, languaging, and the Extended Mind Hypothesis
Pragmatics & Cognition December 4, 2009 DOI: 10.1075/pc.17.3.10ste (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Clark's extended mind hypothesis inadequately conceptualizes language by reifying it as a symbol system, and proposes an ecological approach that treats language as interpersonal activity, challenging the brain-centered assumption of the extended mind. |
Abstract
After a brief summary of Andy Clark’s book, Supersizing the Mind (2008) I address Clark’s approach to language which I argue to be inadequate. Clark is criticized for reifying language, thus neglecting that it is an interpersonal activity, not a stable system of symbols. With a starting point in language as a social phenomenon, I suggest an ecological approach to the extended mind hypothesis, arguing against Clark’s assumption that the extended mind is necessarily brain-centered.