The self-organization of dynamic systems: Modularity under scrutiny

Abstract

Arguments are running high that modularity pervades all neural organization. As a consequence this hallmark is also to be stipulated for language. This demands the concentration on the overall dynamics of language development and the processes governing the organization of systems. The framework used allows for the spotting of system-specific developmental growth curves each of them depending on the interplay of the given neural infrastructure and the input provided. Of particular importance is the notion that language development does not take a linear path but rather comes in phases of intermittent turbulence, fluctuations and stability apt to swap linguistic borders in mid-stream. The focus is set on bilingual development in immigrant children (N = 106; age 6–10) featuring Turkish, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and German.