The Role of Metaphors and Motor Skills in Language Development

Language and our understanding of it is largely influenced by metaphors. Many words we use are rooted in spatial and temporal concepts. Linguist George Lakoff emphasizes the importance of metaphor in language. This challenges Chomsky's more formalistic approach. However, we also know that skills can be developed without language, as observed in crows, gorillas, and chimpanzees. This suggests that motor skills may precede language development. Time will ultimately determine the validity of these theories.