Language and Evolution

Question 1

What was Darwin’s approach to language evolution?

Answer 1

He proposed that language evolution is based on natural selection and adaptation

Question 2

What is Darwin’s theory of natural selection?

Answer 2

• Species have genetically encoded features (there are variations of these features)
• Some external condition favors one variant over the others (advantage)
• Species with this feature survive and pass on the variant of the feature to the next generations

Question 3

Give an example of natural selection

Answer 3

Homo habilis (“singing ape”)

Apes had vocal calls to attract females - the more attractive the call, the better the chance of reproduction. Attractive calls were taught to offspring –> passed on to next generation

Question 4

What is the Baldwin effect?

Answer 4

When a behavior is taught from generation to generation, getting better every time (it becomes an adaptation)

Question 5

Darwin believed that we sang before we spoke. Expand on this.

Answer 5

Darwin believed that the vocal calls of the homo habilis evolved into music and language. Language was an adaptation of these vocal calls

Question 6

What stance did the Société de Linguistique de Paris take on Darwin’s approach to language evolution?

Answer 6

They were more concerned with describing things that could be proven. They blocked Darwin’s research because nothing could be proven.

They worked on creating a “protolanguage”, focusing more on the output (language produced) rather than the processing (cognitive mechanisms)

Question 7

Eventually the linguists took a stand on language evolution, what was it?

Answer 7

• Language was a gradual adaptation in natural selection
• Preadaptations were necessary for language to evolve
• Language evolved modularly (the grammar module evolved as a by-product)

Question 8

What is the cognitive niche?

Answer 8

The cognitive mechanisms that allow humans to dominate the environment

• What makes humans unique

Question 9

What are the 3 components of the cognitive niche?

Answer 9

1. Intelligence - our understanding of the world
   - Creating tools
2. Language - communicating this knowledge
   - Using limited units of meaning to produce unlimited new information
3. Sociality - collaborating with others
   - Reciprocal altruism (temporarily reducing your fitness for others, assumption of future payment)

Question 10

What’s the difference between what evolutionary biologists and linguists thought the purpose of language was?

Answer 10

Evolutionary biologists - communication

Linguists - expressing the complexity of our thoughts & cognition

Question 11

What were some of the possible preadaptations that paved the way for language to emerge?

Answer 11

Symbols, joint attention, Theory of Mind, mirror neurons

Question 12

What are the 3 types of ways to represent information. Name & describe them.

Answer 12

1. Icon - similarity between token & object
2. Index - physical or temporary connection between token & object
3. Symbol - formal/ agreed on connection between token & object

Question 13

Which types of information type are common in the animal kingdom?

Answer 13

Icon and index

Question 14

Do animals use symbols?

Answer 14

Yes, but it’s far less complex than the complexity of human symbols

Question 15

Are mirror neurons unique to humans?

Answer 15

No, monkeys and apes have them too

Question 16

What are some arguments in favor of gesture evolving before speech?

Answer 16

• Animal calls (ex. vervet monkeys) have very little control, but they are very capable with their hands
• The use of tools paved the way for speech (ex. hands busy with tools, so turn to speech to communicate)
• Complex human ability for imitation
• Vocalizations could have emerged to associate with gestures

Question 17

What are some arguments in favor of speech evolving before gestures?

Answer 17

• Gestures require daylight

- Phonetic gestures could’ve a natural progression from chewing, sucking and swallowing

Question 18

What happened when the FOXP2 gene was removed?

Answer 18

Language impairment and affected IQ