Recursion and human language

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This edited collection features original contributions addressing recursion in human languages, stemming from papers presented at a conference organized by Dan Everett in March 2007. Each article underwent a double-blind peer-review process and was written in 2008. The recursive nature of linguistic expressions—the ability to generate an infinite number of expressions from finite means—has long been acknowledged, yet consensus on its empirical status and mathematical formalization remains elusive. Recent claims suggest that recursion may be the only uniquely human trait of language, reigniting interest in the topic. The volume explores recursion from various perspectives, with some articles focusing on formal definitions and others examining empirical structures that indicate recursive mechanisms in grammar. While most contributions discuss syntactic phenomena, several also delve into morphology, the lexicon, and phonology. Additionally, discussions include evolutionary concepts, language disorders, and the broader cognitive implications of recursion, offering a comprehensive examination of this fundamental aspect of human language.