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The Evolution of Language
George Tsoulas
May 10, 2010
1 / 39The Evolution of Language
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The question
How did Humans come to have the capacity to acquire and uselanguage?
2 / 39The Evolution of Language
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Language in Evolution
The linguistic capacity of Modern Humans represents probably thegreatest break and the most important difference with our closestrelatives, the Chimpanzees.1
1Chimpanzee photograph by Michael Nichols, National Geographic
3 / 39The Evolution of Language
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About the “evolutionary break”
How did this evolutionary break occur?
When?
And most importantly:
What exactly did this break consist in?
4 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
About the “evolutionary break”
How did this evolutionary break occur?
When?
And most importantly:
What exactly did this break consist in?
4 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
About the “evolutionary break”
How did this evolutionary break occur?
When?
And most importantly:
What exactly did this break consist in?
4 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
About the “evolutionary break”
How did this evolutionary break occur?
When?
And most importantly:
What exactly did this break consist in?
4 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
These, and some more, constitute the set of questions that we willdesignate as:
The Origin Question.
5 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The Origin Question
Too Easy
Too Hard
Meaningless
The hardest Problem in Science
6 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The Origin Question
Too Easy
Too Hard
Meaningless
The hardest Problem in Science
6 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The Origin Question
Too Easy
Too Hard
Meaningless
The hardest Problem in Science
6 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The Origin Question
Too Easy
Too Hard
Meaningless
The hardest Problem in Science
6 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The same reasons are invoked for each of the positions:
Lack of direct evidence
7 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The same reasons are invoked for each of the positions:
Lack of direct evidence
7 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The kind of evidence that we lack
fossils
Language does not fossilize.
No fossilized vowels, words, structures etc...
8 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Also . . .
Recording equipment was invented too late...
9 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Also . . .Recording equipment was invented too late...
9 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Too Easy
As there is no direct evidence to constrain the various hypotheses,it is really easy to come up with various evolutionary scenarios. e.g.:
The mama theory. Language began with the easiest syllablesattached to the most significant objects.
The ta-ta theory. Language began as an unconscious vocalimitation of body movement/gesture.
The bow-wow theory. Language began as imitations of naturalsounds. Onomatopoeia.
The pooh-pooh theory. Language began with interjections,instinctive emotive cries such as oh! for surprise and ouch! for pain.
The ding-dong theory. Sound symbolism.
10 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Too Easy
As there is no direct evidence to constrain the various hypotheses,it is really easy to come up with various evolutionary scenarios. e.g.:
The mama theory. Language began with the easiest syllablesattached to the most significant objects.
The ta-ta theory. Language began as an unconscious vocalimitation of body movement/gesture.
The bow-wow theory. Language began as imitations of naturalsounds. Onomatopoeia.
The pooh-pooh theory. Language began with interjections,instinctive emotive cries such as oh! for surprise and ouch! for pain.
The ding-dong theory. Sound symbolism.
10 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Too Easy
As there is no direct evidence to constrain the various hypotheses,it is really easy to come up with various evolutionary scenarios. e.g.:
The mama theory. Language began with the easiest syllablesattached to the most significant objects.
The ta-ta theory. Language began as an unconscious vocalimitation of body movement/gesture.
The bow-wow theory. Language began as imitations of naturalsounds. Onomatopoeia.
The pooh-pooh theory. Language began with interjections,instinctive emotive cries such as oh! for surprise and ouch! for pain.
The ding-dong theory. Sound symbolism.
10 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Too Easy
As there is no direct evidence to constrain the various hypotheses,it is really easy to come up with various evolutionary scenarios. e.g.:
The mama theory. Language began with the easiest syllablesattached to the most significant objects.
The ta-ta theory. Language began as an unconscious vocalimitation of body movement/gesture.
The bow-wow theory. Language began as imitations of naturalsounds. Onomatopoeia.
The pooh-pooh theory. Language began with interjections,instinctive emotive cries such as oh! for surprise and ouch! for pain.
The ding-dong theory. Sound symbolism.
10 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Too Easy
As there is no direct evidence to constrain the various hypotheses,it is really easy to come up with various evolutionary scenarios. e.g.:
The mama theory. Language began with the easiest syllablesattached to the most significant objects.
The ta-ta theory. Language began as an unconscious vocalimitation of body movement/gesture.
The bow-wow theory. Language began as imitations of naturalsounds. Onomatopoeia.
The pooh-pooh theory. Language began with interjections,instinctive emotive cries such as oh! for surprise and ouch! for pain.
The ding-dong theory. Sound symbolism.
10 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Too Easy
As there is no direct evidence to constrain the various hypotheses,it is really easy to come up with various evolutionary scenarios. e.g.:
The mama theory. Language began with the easiest syllablesattached to the most significant objects.
The ta-ta theory. Language began as an unconscious vocalimitation of body movement/gesture.
The bow-wow theory. Language began as imitations of naturalsounds. Onomatopoeia.
The pooh-pooh theory. Language began with interjections,instinctive emotive cries such as oh! for surprise and ouch! for pain.
The ding-dong theory. Sound symbolism.
10 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More “theories”
The yo-he-ho theory. Language began as rhythmic chants,perhaps ultimately from the grunts of heavy work (heave-ho!).
The sing-song theory Language comes out of play, laughter,cooing, courtship, emotional mutterings and the like.
The hey you! theory. Language comes from the need forinterpresonal contact (communication).
The hocus pocus theory. Language may have had some roots in asort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors’ lives.
The eureka! theory. Language was invented consciously.
The put-down-the-baby theory. Language has its origins in thecontact between Mother and Baby (motherese, etc...)
The Musilanguage theory. The original language was a mixtureof music and language.
11 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More “theories”
The yo-he-ho theory. Language began as rhythmic chants,perhaps ultimately from the grunts of heavy work (heave-ho!).
The sing-song theory Language comes out of play, laughter,cooing, courtship, emotional mutterings and the like.
The hey you! theory. Language comes from the need forinterpresonal contact (communication).
The hocus pocus theory. Language may have had some roots in asort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors’ lives.
The eureka! theory. Language was invented consciously.
The put-down-the-baby theory. Language has its origins in thecontact between Mother and Baby (motherese, etc...)
The Musilanguage theory. The original language was a mixtureof music and language.
11 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More “theories”
The yo-he-ho theory. Language began as rhythmic chants,perhaps ultimately from the grunts of heavy work (heave-ho!).
The sing-song theory Language comes out of play, laughter,cooing, courtship, emotional mutterings and the like.
The hey you! theory. Language comes from the need forinterpresonal contact (communication).
The hocus pocus theory. Language may have had some roots in asort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors’ lives.
The eureka! theory. Language was invented consciously.
The put-down-the-baby theory. Language has its origins in thecontact between Mother and Baby (motherese, etc...)
The Musilanguage theory. The original language was a mixtureof music and language.
11 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More “theories”
The yo-he-ho theory. Language began as rhythmic chants,perhaps ultimately from the grunts of heavy work (heave-ho!).
The sing-song theory Language comes out of play, laughter,cooing, courtship, emotional mutterings and the like.
The hey you! theory. Language comes from the need forinterpresonal contact (communication).
The hocus pocus theory. Language may have had some roots in asort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors’ lives.
The eureka! theory. Language was invented consciously.
The put-down-the-baby theory. Language has its origins in thecontact between Mother and Baby (motherese, etc...)
The Musilanguage theory. The original language was a mixtureof music and language.
11 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More “theories”
The yo-he-ho theory. Language began as rhythmic chants,perhaps ultimately from the grunts of heavy work (heave-ho!).
The sing-song theory Language comes out of play, laughter,cooing, courtship, emotional mutterings and the like.
The hey you! theory. Language comes from the need forinterpresonal contact (communication).
The hocus pocus theory. Language may have had some roots in asort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors’ lives.
The eureka! theory. Language was invented consciously.
The put-down-the-baby theory. Language has its origins in thecontact between Mother and Baby (motherese, etc...)
The Musilanguage theory. The original language was a mixtureof music and language.
11 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More “theories”
The yo-he-ho theory. Language began as rhythmic chants,perhaps ultimately from the grunts of heavy work (heave-ho!).
The sing-song theory Language comes out of play, laughter,cooing, courtship, emotional mutterings and the like.
The hey you! theory. Language comes from the need forinterpresonal contact (communication).
The hocus pocus theory. Language may have had some roots in asort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors’ lives.
The eureka! theory. Language was invented consciously.
The put-down-the-baby theory. Language has its origins in thecontact between Mother and Baby (motherese, etc...)
The Musilanguage theory. The original language was a mixtureof music and language.
11 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More “theories”
The yo-he-ho theory. Language began as rhythmic chants,perhaps ultimately from the grunts of heavy work (heave-ho!).
The sing-song theory Language comes out of play, laughter,cooing, courtship, emotional mutterings and the like.
The hey you! theory. Language comes from the need forinterpresonal contact (communication).
The hocus pocus theory. Language may have had some roots in asort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors’ lives.
The eureka! theory. Language was invented consciously.
The put-down-the-baby theory. Language has its origins in thecontact between Mother and Baby (motherese, etc...)
The Musilanguage theory. The original language was a mixtureof music and language.
11 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More “theories”
The yo-he-ho theory. Language began as rhythmic chants,perhaps ultimately from the grunts of heavy work (heave-ho!).
The sing-song theory Language comes out of play, laughter,cooing, courtship, emotional mutterings and the like.
The hey you! theory. Language comes from the need forinterpresonal contact (communication).
The hocus pocus theory. Language may have had some roots in asort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors’ lives.
The eureka! theory. Language was invented consciously.
The put-down-the-baby theory. Language has its origins in thecontact between Mother and Baby (motherese, etc...)
The Musilanguage theory. The original language was a mixtureof music and language.
11 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The merits of the above theories are at best very doubtful, at worstinexistent..
12 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
It is as a result of a proliferation of theories of this type that theSociété linguistique de Paris banned in 1866 all studies on theorigin of language.
13 / 39The Evolution of Language
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14 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
And if your French is rusty:
“Art. 2. The association does not accept any submissionsconcerning either the origin of language or the creation of auniversal language.”
15 / 39The Evolution of Language
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Too Hard
As there is not enough (any?) evidence, it is extremely difficult toeven begin a reasonable investigation.
16 / 39The Evolution of Language
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Meaningless
Since there are no hard data, what’s the point? The questioncannot be answered.
17 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The Hardest Problem is Science
Well, this may be somewhat of an exaggeration but the idea isthat, because we lack usable direct evidence, we will have to beextremely resourceful and creative to find other types of evidencethat will be as good as direct evidence.
18 / 39The Evolution of Language
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As a result, the modern study of the evolution of language has tointegrate insights form a large number of other disciplines,including:
19 / 39The Evolution of Language
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Evolutionary and molecular biology
Primatology
Linguistics
(Paleo)anthropology
Neuroscience
Computer Science
Georgraphy
Musicology
Psychology
etc...
20 / 39The Evolution of Language
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But . . .
Before we integrate all these kinds of insights we need to take astep back and ask:
What exactly do we mean by Language, whose evolution wepropose to study?
21 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
But . . .
Before we integrate all these kinds of insights we need to take astep back and ask:What exactly do we mean by Language, whose evolution wepropose to study?
21 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Distinction 1: E vs I
E-Language
A set of utterrances, a social object, an object of cultural trans-mission, Something that is called, English, Icelandic, Swahili,Apache, Mohawk etc...
I-language
A state of the human mind/brain.
22 / 39The Evolution of Language
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Distinction 1: E vs I
E-Language
A set of utterrances, a social object, an object of cultural trans-mission, Something that is called, English, Icelandic, Swahili,Apache, Mohawk etc...
I-language
A state of the human mind/brain.
22 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
In the case of E-language.
A theory of language evolution has nothing to say.
E-languages in themselves have no biological basis and therefore,htere is nothing to say about them in terms of evolutionary theory.
23 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
In the case of E-language.
A theory of language evolution has nothing to say.
E-languages in themselves have no biological basis and therefore,htere is nothing to say about them in terms of evolutionary theory.
23 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Questions of evolution arise meaningfully only about I-language.Namely,
What is the structure of the knowledge that individual languageusers store in their brains ? and as a corollary:
What is the structure of the knwoledge in the child that makeslanguage acquisition possible.
These are questions about which we can ask questions in terms oftheir biological evolution.
24 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Questions of evolution arise meaningfully only about I-language.Namely,
What is the structure of the knowledge that individual languageusers store in their brains ? and as a corollary:
What is the structure of the knwoledge in the child that makeslanguage acquisition possible.
These are questions about which we can ask questions in terms oftheir biological evolution.
24 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Questions of evolution arise meaningfully only about I-language.Namely,
What is the structure of the knowledge that individual languageusers store in their brains ? and as a corollary:
What is the structure of the knwoledge in the child that makeslanguage acquisition possible.
These are questions about which we can ask questions in terms oftheir biological evolution.
24 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Distinction 2: Language and Commu-nication
Language and Communication are two distinct things.
Language can be used to communicate but is not designed forcommunication.
Communication is a much larger notion than language.
It is not odd to say that no non-human animal possesses language
It is entirely false to suggest (whether or not as a result of theprevious point) that animals lack communication systems.
25 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Distinction 2: Language and Commu-nication
Language and Communication are two distinct things.
Language can be used to communicate but is not designed forcommunication.
Communication is a much larger notion than language.
It is not odd to say that no non-human animal possesses language
It is entirely false to suggest (whether or not as a result of theprevious point) that animals lack communication systems.
25 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Distinction 2: Language and Commu-nication
Language and Communication are two distinct things.
Language can be used to communicate but is not designed forcommunication.
Communication is a much larger notion than language.
It is not odd to say that no non-human animal possesses language
It is entirely false to suggest (whether or not as a result of theprevious point) that animals lack communication systems.
25 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Distinction 2: Language and Commu-nication
Language and Communication are two distinct things.
Language can be used to communicate but is not designed forcommunication.
Communication is a much larger notion than language.
It is not odd to say that no non-human animal possesses language
It is entirely false to suggest (whether or not as a result of theprevious point) that animals lack communication systems.
25 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Distinction 2: Language and Commu-nication
Language and Communication are two distinct things.
Language can be used to communicate but is not designed forcommunication.
Communication is a much larger notion than language.
It is not odd to say that no non-human animal possesses language
It is entirely false to suggest (whether or not as a result of theprevious point) that animals lack communication systems.
25 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Animal Communication Systems
(This is only a very small preview we will return to this)
Bees have specific dances to communicate distance, quantity andquality of food.
Dogs use smell (urine), vocalisations (barking, growling), visualdisplays, and facial expressions to communicate.
Vervet monkeys, when spotting a predator emit alarm calls thatdiffer depending on the predator. They, in this way, alertconspecifics to the presence of the predator.
Butterflies emit pheromores when they are ready to mate
26 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Animal Communication Systems
(This is only a very small preview we will return to this)
Bees have specific dances to communicate distance, quantity andquality of food.
Dogs use smell (urine), vocalisations (barking, growling), visualdisplays, and facial expressions to communicate.
Vervet monkeys, when spotting a predator emit alarm calls thatdiffer depending on the predator. They, in this way, alertconspecifics to the presence of the predator.
Butterflies emit pheromores when they are ready to mate
26 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Animal Communication Systems
(This is only a very small preview we will return to this)
Bees have specific dances to communicate distance, quantity andquality of food.
Dogs use smell (urine), vocalisations (barking, growling), visualdisplays, and facial expressions to communicate.
Vervet monkeys, when spotting a predator emit alarm calls thatdiffer depending on the predator. They, in this way, alertconspecifics to the presence of the predator.
Butterflies emit pheromores when they are ready to mate
26 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Animal Communication Systems
(This is only a very small preview we will return to this)
Bees have specific dances to communicate distance, quantity andquality of food.
Dogs use smell (urine), vocalisations (barking, growling), visualdisplays, and facial expressions to communicate.
Vervet monkeys, when spotting a predator emit alarm calls thatdiffer depending on the predator. They, in this way, alertconspecifics to the presence of the predator.
Butterflies emit pheromores when they are ready to mate
26 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More . . .
Birds through songs (highly complex songs)
Cuttlefish communicate via rapid color changes
Elephants communicate via infra sounds
Electric fish by emiting currents that only they can produce andsense.
and much more.
27 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More . . .
Birds through songs (highly complex songs)
Cuttlefish communicate via rapid color changes
Elephants communicate via infra sounds
Electric fish by emiting currents that only they can produce andsense.
and much more.
27 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More . . .
Birds through songs (highly complex songs)
Cuttlefish communicate via rapid color changes
Elephants communicate via infra sounds
Electric fish by emiting currents that only they can produce andsense.
and much more.
27 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More . . .
Birds through songs (highly complex songs)
Cuttlefish communicate via rapid color changes
Elephants communicate via infra sounds
Electric fish by emiting currents that only they can produce andsense.
and much more.
27 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
More . . .
Birds through songs (highly complex songs)
Cuttlefish communicate via rapid color changes
Elephants communicate via infra sounds
Electric fish by emiting currents that only they can produce andsense.
and much more.
27 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Humans don’t only - as is well known - use language tocommunicate. Other modalities include
Facial expressions (smile, frown)
Gesture (which can be culture specific)
so-called body language
Non-linguistic vocalisations
Music
28 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Humans don’t only - as is well known - use language tocommunicate. Other modalities include
Facial expressions (smile, frown)
Gesture (which can be culture specific)
so-called body language
Non-linguistic vocalisations
Music
28 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Humans don’t only - as is well known - use language tocommunicate. Other modalities include
Facial expressions (smile, frown)
Gesture (which can be culture specific)
so-called body language
Non-linguistic vocalisations
Music
28 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Humans don’t only - as is well known - use language tocommunicate. Other modalities include
Facial expressions (smile, frown)
Gesture (which can be culture specific)
so-called body language
Non-linguistic vocalisations
Music
28 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Humans don’t only - as is well known - use language tocommunicate. Other modalities include
Facial expressions (smile, frown)
Gesture (which can be culture specific)
so-called body language
Non-linguistic vocalisations
Music
28 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
But language is special
Although we noted that probably language is not designed with thesole purpose of communication (we have not argued for this indetail yet) Language is special in two ways:
Its scope and specificity
: we can use language to communicateabout absolutely anything and everything from what we will cookfor dinner to the evolution of the cuttlefish communication system.
Its flexibility : it extends to everything we can and will think.
This is in stark contrast with all other animal communicationsystems that we know of.
29 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
But language is special
Although we noted that probably language is not designed with thesole purpose of communication (we have not argued for this indetail yet) Language is special in two ways:
Its scope and specificity : we can use language to communicateabout absolutely anything and everything from what we will cookfor dinner to the evolution of the cuttlefish communication system.
Its flexibility : it extends to everything we can and will think.
This is in stark contrast with all other animal communicationsystems that we know of.
29 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
But language is special
Although we noted that probably language is not designed with thesole purpose of communication (we have not argued for this indetail yet) Language is special in two ways:
Its scope and specificity : we can use language to communicateabout absolutely anything and everything from what we will cookfor dinner to the evolution of the cuttlefish communication system.
Its flexibility
: it extends to everything we can and will think.
This is in stark contrast with all other animal communicationsystems that we know of.
29 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
But language is special
Although we noted that probably language is not designed with thesole purpose of communication (we have not argued for this indetail yet) Language is special in two ways:
Its scope and specificity : we can use language to communicateabout absolutely anything and everything from what we will cookfor dinner to the evolution of the cuttlefish communication system.
Its flexibility : it extends to everything we can and will think.
This is in stark contrast with all other animal communicationsystems that we know of.
29 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
But language is special
Although we noted that probably language is not designed with thesole purpose of communication (we have not argued for this indetail yet) Language is special in two ways:
Its scope and specificity : we can use language to communicateabout absolutely anything and everything from what we will cookfor dinner to the evolution of the cuttlefish communication system.
Its flexibility : it extends to everything we can and will think.
This is in stark contrast with all other animal communicationsystems that we know of.
29 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Acquiring the systems
No animal has or can acquire human language
Despite what is said about very intensively trained Chimpanzees(Kanji, Vikki, etc...)
At the same time a human exposed to the bee communicationsystem will NOT naturally acquire it. Though there does seem tobe some kind of continuum.
30 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Acquiring the systems
No animal has or can acquire human language
Despite what is said about very intensively trained Chimpanzees(Kanji, Vikki, etc...)
At the same time a human exposed to the bee communicationsystem will NOT naturally acquire it. Though there does seem tobe some kind of continuum.
30 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Acquiring the systems
No animal has or can acquire human language
Despite what is said about very intensively trained Chimpanzees(Kanji, Vikki, etc...)
At the same time a human exposed to the bee communicationsystem will NOT naturally acquire it. Though there does seem tobe some kind of continuum.
30 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The Language Faculty
We can suggest that what animals lack is the so-called LanguageFaculty.
But we have to be more specific.
31 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The Language Faculty
We can suggest that what animals lack is the so-called LanguageFaculty.
But we have to be more specific.
31 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Distinction 3: The language FacultyBroad and Narrow senses
The faculty of Language is complex and made up of variouscomponents. Some of them used in other areas too or drafted infrom other areas and some unique to the Language faculty andpresumably uniquely human.
32 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The Language Faculty
FLB
Inference
Propositionality
Combinatorial phonology
Theory of Mind
Vocal Production Memory
SequencingSignal learning
Signal Parity Speech Perception
FLNSubset of mechanismsUnique to Humans and
to language
????
All mechanismc involved in language
33 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Another look at the Language Faculty
FLB
Inference
Propositionality
Combinatorial phonology
Theory of Mind
Vocal Production Memory
SequencingSignal learning
Signal Parity Speech Perception
FLNSubset of mechanismsUnique to Humans and
to language
????
All mechanismc involved in language
33 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The distinction is useful in many ways both “formal” andsubstantive.
Formal in the sense that we can (finally!) agree on terms and whatwe are talking about.
Substantive because it allows us to think of the evolution oflanguage in rational terms.
34 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The distinction is useful in many ways both “formal” andsubstantive.
Formal in the sense that we can (finally!) agree on terms and whatwe are talking about.
Substantive because it allows us to think of the evolution oflanguage in rational terms.
34 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
For each of the elements in the graph we can ask meaningfulevolutionary and biological questions e.g.:
Is this trait shared with other animals?
Which ones
Who was the Last Common Ancestor with this trait?
What is its neural basis
Is it shared with other cognitive systems
etc . . . etc . . .
This is in part what in evolutionary biology is called Thecomparative method. More on this later.
35 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
For each of the elements in the graph we can ask meaningfulevolutionary and biological questions e.g.:
Is this trait shared with other animals?
Which ones
Who was the Last Common Ancestor with this trait?
What is its neural basis
Is it shared with other cognitive systems
etc . . . etc . . .
This is in part what in evolutionary biology is called Thecomparative method. More on this later.
35 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
For each of the elements in the graph we can ask meaningfulevolutionary and biological questions e.g.:
Is this trait shared with other animals?
Which ones
Who was the Last Common Ancestor with this trait?
What is its neural basis
Is it shared with other cognitive systems
etc . . . etc . . .
This is in part what in evolutionary biology is called Thecomparative method. More on this later.
35 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
For each of the elements in the graph we can ask meaningfulevolutionary and biological questions e.g.:
Is this trait shared with other animals?
Which ones
Who was the Last Common Ancestor with this trait?
What is its neural basis
Is it shared with other cognitive systems
etc . . . etc . . .
This is in part what in evolutionary biology is called Thecomparative method. More on this later.
35 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
For each of the elements in the graph we can ask meaningfulevolutionary and biological questions e.g.:
Is this trait shared with other animals?
Which ones
Who was the Last Common Ancestor with this trait?
What is its neural basis
Is it shared with other cognitive systems
etc . . . etc . . .
This is in part what in evolutionary biology is called Thecomparative method. More on this later.
35 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
For each of the elements in the graph we can ask meaningfulevolutionary and biological questions e.g.:
Is this trait shared with other animals?
Which ones
Who was the Last Common Ancestor with this trait?
What is its neural basis
Is it shared with other cognitive systems
etc . . . etc . . .
This is in part what in evolutionary biology is called Thecomparative method. More on this later.
35 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
For each of the elements in the graph we can ask meaningfulevolutionary and biological questions e.g.:
Is this trait shared with other animals?
Which ones
Who was the Last Common Ancestor with this trait?
What is its neural basis
Is it shared with other cognitive systems
etc . . . etc . . .
This is in part what in evolutionary biology is called Thecomparative method. More on this later.
35 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The nature of Language
So, what definition of language is useful for the study of evolution?
Language is a Computational System
The outputs of the computations are Representations
These representations must be readable/usable by other cognitivesystems including:
Sensori-motor systems, leading to externalisation, either vocal orgesturalConceptual-Intentional, leading to belief fixation and revision,Decision, reasonning, action etc. . .
So let’s have a look at the language faculty again.
36 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The nature of Language
So, what definition of language is useful for the study of evolution?
Language is a Computational System
The outputs of the computations are Representations
These representations must be readable/usable by other cognitivesystems including:
Sensori-motor systems, leading to externalisation, either vocal orgesturalConceptual-Intentional, leading to belief fixation and revision,Decision, reasonning, action etc. . .
So let’s have a look at the language faculty again.
36 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The nature of Language
So, what definition of language is useful for the study of evolution?
Language is a Computational System
The outputs of the computations are Representations
These representations must be readable/usable by other cognitivesystems including:
Sensori-motor systems, leading to externalisation, either vocal orgestural
Conceptual-Intentional, leading to belief fixation and revision,Decision, reasonning, action etc. . .
So let’s have a look at the language faculty again.
36 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The nature of Language
So, what definition of language is useful for the study of evolution?
Language is a Computational System
The outputs of the computations are Representations
These representations must be readable/usable by other cognitivesystems including:
Sensori-motor systems, leading to externalisation, either vocal orgesturalConceptual-Intentional, leading to belief fixation and revision,Decision, reasonning, action etc. . .
So let’s have a look at the language faculty again.
36 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
The nature of Language
So, what definition of language is useful for the study of evolution?
Language is a Computational System
The outputs of the computations are Representations
These representations must be readable/usable by other cognitivesystems including:
Sensori-motor systems, leading to externalisation, either vocal orgesturalConceptual-Intentional, leading to belief fixation and revision,Decision, reasonning, action etc. . .
So let’s have a look at the language faculty again.
36 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Another look at the Language Faculty
FLB
Inference
Propositionality
Combinatorial phonology
Theory of Mind
Vocal Production Memory
SequencingSignal learning
Signal Parity Speech Perception
FLNSubset of mechanismsUnique to Humans and
to language
????
All mechanismc involved in language
37 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Mind the (explanatory) gap
Question: How does a “computation” effect an action? (i.e. thecomputation that leads to speaking)
Answer: Nobody Knows !
Seriously...
38 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Mind the (explanatory) gap
Question: How does a “computation” effect an action? (i.e. thecomputation that leads to speaking)
Answer: Nobody Knows !
Seriously...
38 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Mind the (explanatory) gap
Question: How does a “computation” effect an action? (i.e. thecomputation that leads to speaking)
Answer: Nobody Knows !
Seriously...
38 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Conclusion
The study of the evolution of language - though extremely difficultmay not be entirely hopeless
The distinction between FLB and FLN
We can ask meaningful questions when we focus on I-language
39 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Conclusion
The study of the evolution of language - though extremely difficultmay not be entirely hopeless
The distinction between FLB and FLN
We can ask meaningful questions when we focus on I-language
39 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
Conclusion
The study of the evolution of language - though extremely difficultmay not be entirely hopeless
The distinction between FLB and FLN
We can ask meaningful questions when we focus on I-language
39 / 39The Evolution of Language
N
