Skip to Content

Improvisation, Language, and Cognition

Peter Blouw

Published: 2010-07-22

This article explores the way conversational language is both improvisational and structured. It touches on Noam Chomsky's idea of 'universal grammar' but also highlights the way we use preset linguistic phrases to create language in the same way that improvising musicians draw on a personal repertoire of motifs.

Available Files

  • improv_language_cognition.pdf

    91 KB | application/pdf

    Download

Musical improvisation is a crucial model for political, cultural, and ethical dialogue and action.

– Ajay Heble