On Recursion and Its Varieties: Formal, Cognitive and Use Aspects of Recursion in Language

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.