The hypothesis is advanced that cerebral dominance includes two elements, interhemispheric specification for language (lateralization) and intrahemispheric language specification (localization). Consequently, each type of aphasia is determined by the degree of dominance establishment (i.e., lateralization and localization) existing at the moment of brain damage. Evidence for this concept is presented through a comparison of aphasia in left-handers and “anomalous” dextrals with aphasia in childhood.