Modularity of language reconsidered

This paper focuses on claims for the modularity of language that have been voiced within the field of cognitive developmental disorders. It will be argued that, whereas there is sound empirical support for 'little' modularity, i.e., the internal modularity of the grammar, the cases that have been brought up in the literature do not, in fact, provide support for 'Big' Modularity, i.e., the Modularity of the language faculty. The cases discussed are children with William's Syndrome and the retarded individuals studied by Cromer (1993), Curtiss (1979, 1988), Rondal (1993), Smith and Tsimpli (1995), and Yamada (1990). Rather then making the case for Modularity, it is suggested that these individuals' liguistic performance can best be described in terms of uniquely preserved accessing privileges for language which enable them to reach levels of performance that they cannot reach through other modalities.