Towards a Brain Compatible Theory of Syntax Based on Local Testability

Chomsky’s theory of syntax came after criticism of probabilistic associative models of word order in sentences. Immediate constituent structures are plausible but their description by generative grammars has met with difficulties. The type 2 (context-free) grammars account for constituent structure, but already trespass the mathematical capacity required by language, because they generate unnatural mathematical sets: a consequence of being recursive function theory. Abstract associative models investigated by formal language theoreticians (Schutzenberger, McNaughton, Papert, Brzozowsky, Simon) are known as locally testable models. A combination of locally testable and constituent structure models is proposed under the name of Associative Language Description, arguing that it equals type 2 grammars in explanatory adequacy, yet is compatible with brain models. Two versions of ALD are exemplified and discussed: one based on modulation, the other on pattern rules. A sketch of brain orga...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: BIRTHDAY
• Authors: Stefano Crespi-Reghizzi, Valentino Braitenberg
• Keywords: Applied Computing, Associative Models, BIRTHDAY 2003, Constituent Structure, Probabilistic Associative Models