On Recursion and Its Varieties

Formal, Cognitive and Use Aspects of Recursion in Language
Erscheinungsjahr 2025
ISBN: 978-3-031-87424-6
Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Buch, Englisch, 101 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 340 g

Reihe: Contemporary Systems Thinking

This book discusses linguistic recursion as a transversal property that runs through different fields, including language, computer science, mathematics, architecture, music, and art. Linguistic recursion, considered since the seminal work of Hauser, Chomsky, and Fitch (2002) the defining characteristic of human language, has no analogue or homologue in other animal communication systems. This book presents different aspects of recursion from a syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic framework. Syntax recursion is largely addressed through the different types of dependencies, most notably those hierarchically composed. The semantic and pragmatic topics are respectively discussed in relation to the theory of mind and a dialogical use of language.

Although there are several texts on specific topics of recursion, this is the first that compiles its varieties, pointing out the differences, but also the interrelationships of its core aspects. The book presents recursion as a complex phenomenon related not only to language, but also to other cognitive scenarios, such as working memory, linguistic disabilities, or primitive cultures.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Sobrino, Alejandro

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Sprachwissenschaften
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Computerlinguistik, Korpuslinguistik
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Informatik Künstliche Intelligenz
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management Forschung & Entwicklung (F&E), Innovation

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Presentation.- Recursion: definition, presence and origin.- Types of recursion.- Linguistic recursion.- Other recursion topics.- Epilogue.

Über Autor(innen)

Alejandro Sobrino is Professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science at the University of Santiago de Compostela, where he also received his PhD in Philosophy. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree in computer science from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Dr. Sobrino’s research interests are formal models of imprecise language, natural language processing and computing with words. He has recently published the book (in Spanish) (University of Santiago de Compostela Press, 2023).