Language as a process

Language is not the result state of some type of learning process, but is a process itself, so that there is complete continuity in kind between what an infant is doing and what an adult is doing with language. This chapter describes three fundamental language processes undertaken by children and adults. Language is part of joint action: language is a conventional coordination device for communication, which in turn is an effective coordination device for joint action. Language itself is behavior: speakers replicate linguistic structures in utterances for social purposes. The nature of the replication process guarantees that replication generates variation and ultimately language change (cultural evolution). Finally, language is also verbalization: the construal of human experience into lexicogrammatical form. Keywords: Process; joint action; coordination device convention; verbalization