Left or Right Hemisphere? A Novel Answer to the Old Question of Lateralization by Introducing IRL (Individualistic Relativistic Lateralization)

Although lateralization for language functions gives the sheer authority of language centers and control to the left hemisphere, there is a strong debate among the specialists regarding which hemisphere has the responsibility for language. There is not a complete meeting ground among the scholars on the roles of each hemisphere in language processes either. The recent studies including the advanced technologies such as neuroimaging, Positron-emission Tomography (PET) and functional MRI come up with contradictory findings that do not support the long time claim of left hemisphere dominance. Generally, this paper aims at finding a novel answer to the old question of lateralization in language acquisition. More particularly, first it attempts to review the latest researches to see the role of left and right hemispheres in language processes. Second, it introduces a novel version of lateralization as IRL (Individualistic Relativistic Lateralization) that rejects the notion of "left-brain only” and “right-brain only” person and functioning and accordingly rejects also the absolute generalizeable perspective to lateralization and localization.