Objectif There remains, despite centuries of debate, no consensus about what makes humans intellectually and culturally different from other species, and even less so concerning the underlying sources of these differences. The main hypothesis of the project Stages in the Evolution and Development of Sign Use is that it is not language per se, but an advanced ability to engage in sign use that constitutes the characteristic feature of human beings; in particular the ability to differentiate between the sign itself, be it gesture, picture, word or abstract symbol, and what it represents, i.e. the 'semiotic function' (Piaget 1945). The project is highly interdisciplinary and the single research effort will afford new possibilities for methodolog ical innovation, and the collection and analysis of new types of comparative data.The central research objective of the project is to investigate the developmental and comparative distribution of semiotic processes, and their effect on cognition. For this purpose we single out five cognitive domains, and propose to study their interrelations and role in the development of sign use. They are: (a) perception and categorisation, (b) iconicity and pictures, (c) spatial conceptualisation and metaphor , (d) imitation and mimesis and (e) intersubjectivity and conventions. They are all characterised by stage-like developmental profiles which we expect to correlate with differences in sign use. The investigations in the different domains will be carr ied out in parallel, with extensive sharing of methodologies and results. Since we hold that each domain plays a key role in providing cognitive prerequisites for the development of sign use, and at the same time is transformed by the acquisition of the latter, we expect to find considerable similarities and interactions between developments in the domains. Finally, we intend to integrate all the results in a coherent new theory of Programme(s) FP6-POLICIES - Policy support: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Thème(s) NEST-2003-1 - Adventure activities Appel à propositions FP6-2003-NEST-PATH Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinateur GOLDSMITHS COLLEGE - UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Adresse Lewisham way, new cross London Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Participants (5) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE France Contribution de l’UE € 0,00 Adresse 3, rue michel-ange Paris Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Autres sources de financement Aucune donnée CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE Italie Contribution de l’UE € 0,00 Adresse Piazzale aldo moro 7 Roma Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Autres sources de financement Aucune donnée LUNDS UNIVERSITET Suède Contribution de l’UE € 0,00 Adresse Paradisgatan 5c Lund Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Autres sources de financement Aucune donnée MAX PLANCK SOCIETY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, REPRESENTED BY MPI-EVA Allemagne Contribution de l’UE € 0,00 Adresse Deutscher platz 6 Leipzig Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Autres sources de financement Aucune donnée UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE € 0,00 Adresse University house, winston churchill avenue Portsmouth Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Autres sources de financement Aucune donnée
