What are the functional properties of the network that make it possible for imitation and language to co-exist within the same neural architecture?
A body of studies in various research domains, including psychology, linguistics, and anthropology, has intensively discussed the role of repetition (often referred to as imitation) in language acquisition, reporting that repetition facilitates grammatical and lexical development (Corrigan 1980; Snow 1981, 1983; Kuczaj 1982; Speidel and Nelson 1989; Perez-Pereira 1994).
The standard approach, in magazine articles about Pryor, has been to comment on his anger — in an imitation-colloquial language meant to approximate Pryor's voice.
This network of areas is critical to imitation and to language.
The American Heritage dictionary defines plagiarism as: "the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work".
In my novel Ulverton, set in a village over 300 years, I used strict imitations of period language to find my way into the folds of each century, while Hodd, set in the 13th century, purported to be a translation of a Latin manuscript.
"Welcome," he replied, attempting a flawless imitation of her birdlike language.
Recently, there has been an exponential increase in developmental mu rhythm research, partially due to the mu rhythm's potential role in our understanding of others' actions as well as a variety of other social and cognitive processes (e.g., imitation, theory of mind, language).
Less defensibly, one could further argue that Lost in the Meritocracy is itself a thoroughly practiced imitation of a certain language of rebellion, nonconformity, and protest meant to take to task the easy target of the postmodern academy.
Babies learn language through imitation, repetition of sounds, and most importantly, by not being shy or perhaps self-conscious.
