Luria's language theory within a cognitive theory: A Canadian perspective

Luria's functional organization of the brain, and views on language, have influenced major developments in conceptualizing cognitive processes and linguistic abilities; research by a Canadian group in these areas is presented in this paper. Aspects of language such as paradigmatic and syntagmatic associations, and the failure to acquire phonological coding, are considered in several empirical studies. The theoretical context for them is provided by a theory that considers four primary cognitive processes: planning, arousal-attention, simultaneous and successive processing. The theory provides an understanding for linguistic development in children which is a significant extension of Luria's clinical work. It confirms the validity of the four cognitive processes outside the clinical population.