ENGLISH

The Origins of Language: Unraveling Evolutionary Forces

Book information

Year
2008
ISBN
4431791019, 9784431791010
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
993 kB (1016515 bytes)
Edition
1
Pages
165\164
Time added
2011-06-04 13:46:07

Description

Developments in cognitive science indicate that human and nonhuman primates share a range of behavioral and physiological characteristics that speak to the issue of language origins. This volume has three major themes, woven throughout the chapters. First, it is argued that scientists in animal behavior and anthropology need to move beyond theoretical debate to a more empirically focused and comparative approach to language. Second, those empirical and comparative methods are described, revealing underpinnings of language, some of which are shared by humans and other primates and others of which are unique to humans. New insights are discussed, and several hypotheses emerge concerning the evolutionary forces that led to the "design" of language. Third, evolutionary challenges that led to adaptive changes in communication over time are considered with an eye toward understanding various constraints that channeled the process.

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