Why Thought and Language Need a Body:
Challenging Descartes
Michał B. Paradowski
Professor, University of Warsaw
Professor, University of Warsaw
Thursday, February 23
10:30-11:30 AM
Eastern US Time
10:30-11:30 AM
Eastern US Time
UMBC Campus, Sherman Hall A, Room 208
The event is free, but please email tesol@umbc.edu to RSVP
In the ‘orthodox’ view of cognition, thought
processes have been seen as manipulation of symbolic, mental
representations, taking place disjoined from the body. This dualist
Cartesian approach characterized much of twentieth-century thought and
is still taken for granted by many people today. Language, too, has for a
long time been treated across scientific domains as a system operating
largely independently from perception, action, and the body
(articulatory-perceptual organs notwithstanding). Yet, the disembodied
perspective is inaccurate for numerous reasons, which will be discussed
addressing the issue of the indissoluble link between cognition,
language, body, and environment in understanding and learning. The talk
will conclude with implications and suggestions for pedagogy, relevant
for disciplines as diverse as instruction in language, mathematics, and
sports.
Michał B. Paradowski is a
professor and teacher trainer at the Institute of Applied Linguistics,
University of Warsaw and a research and language teaching consultant.
His interests include second language acquisition and instruction,
bi-/multilingualism, psycholinguistics, cognitive science and
educational psychology. He is currently PI for the projects How Peer
Interaction Mediates Second and Third Language Acquisition and Language
Learners’ Perception of Online vs Face-to-face Learning Effectiveness.
This
event is co-sponsored by
Center for Social Science Scholarship; TESOL Graduate Program; Language,
Literacy, and Culture Doctoral Program; and the Department of Education