Chapter 8 - Language & Evolution

Question 1

What does Steven Pinker (1992) argue about humans’ language ability?

Answer 1

it is a species-specific trait that evolved through natural selection.

Question 2

What advantage do Pinker and Bloom (1992) say language provides?

Answer 2

it allows people to acquire knowledge second-hand and avoid time-consuming or dangerous trial-and-error learning.

Question 3

What is a common argument against language being a product of evolution?

Answer 3

small differences in language ability may not have influenced reproductive success in early societies (Premack, 1985).

Question 4

How do Pinker and Bloom (1992) respond to Premack’s criticism that language ability may not have influenced reproductive success?

Answer 4

they argue that very small adaptive differences are sufficient to fuel evolutionary change.