The Interface in the Theory of Parallel Architecture: A Study of the Interaction Between the Linguistic System and Cognitive and Perceptual Systems

Abstract

Interface, particularly in linguistic theory and, more generally, in the scientific field, constitutes a central theoretical and operational concept. Its centrality lies in its function as a formal system that enables the necessary interaction among multiple subsystems and allows them to constrain one another, thereby ensuring the proper functioning of the broader, more complex system. This applies to both the "internal" domain of the linguistic faculty, which is associated with the interaction among its subcomponents, namely, phonological, syntactic, and semantic components, and its "external" domain, which is concerned with its integration into the network of non-linguistic cognitive faculties that constitute the overall structure of the mind/brain. This study examines some of the most significant developments in understanding the nature of this concept, particularly its definition, formal properties, the status of its rules within grammatical theory, its types and domains of application, as well as its fundamental role in the design, acquisition, and use of linguistic competence and in its interaction with various forms of perceptual and conceptual faculties. The study concludes by highlighting the importance of interface in establishing connections between the linguistic meanings of lexical items and the various cognitive and perceptual faculties that underpin and inform them.