Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Language evolution: Language origin refers to the emergence and development of human communication systems. It encompasses the evolution of speech and early forms of language used by our ancestors. See also Language, Language and thought, Language use, Language community._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Terrence W. Deacon on Language Evolution - Dictionary of Arguments
I 25 Language evolution/Evolution/Deacon: Language is one of the most striking behavioural adaptations of our planet. Languages have developed only in one species, only in one way, without precursors - except in a very generalized sense. The differences between language and all other forms of communication are considerable. >Language, >Communication. This is also reflected in the anatomy of the human being, especially the brain and the vocal apparatus. We can see these differences in living species. I 34 Language evolution/human/animal/Deacon: the incomparability of human and non-human communication has led to exaggerated and unacceptable interpretations of the origin of language. I 35 For example, the assertion that language is the result of a certain interconnection in the brain, which is unique, is not only the assertion that it is a unique neurological characteristic correlated with this unique behavior, but also that it is a substantial biological discontinuity. DeaconVs: this is a modern mythology, according to which we would have given a monkey a speech computer in his hand. That reminds me of the movie "Short Circuit". I 44 Language evolution/Deacon: Thesis: Speech and brain have become more complex in common evolution and have been designed as they are today. Even though we do not find any simple languages today, the beginnings were certainly easier than the languages we find today. Somewhere in this development, the threshold was crossed to an extremely difficult symbolic reference. >Symbolic reference, >Symbols/Deacon, >Reference. I 105 - 110 Language evolution/DeaconVsChomsky/Deacon: Why do children so often make the right choice when they try out grammatical rules? It is the language that develops "user-friendly". Language develops faster than brains during evolution. >Evolution. Just as dolphins can only be taught tricks that they perform on their own initiative when they are in a good mood. However, the language is not as limited in its development as the interface of a computer, which is ultimately dictated by the design of the engineers. Language has evolved in terms of reproducibility, in relation to selection pressure by human users. Language that is easier to learn prevails stronger. N.B.: you do not have to assume, as Chomsky does, that children are particularly clever. I 111 It is helpful to imagine that language is a parasitic form of life that nests in brains to reproduce itself. I 112 Deacon/Morton Christansen: Thesis: There is a co-evolutionary dynamic between language and its host, the brain. One can compare language in a way with viruses, which are not completely independent living beings themselves, but are full of information for their own reproduction. I 113 The relationship between people and language can be described as symbiotic, both need each other to reproduce. Of course, the language as a whole cannot be defined in this way. I 114 Bilingualism: in the case of bilingual people, brain regions tend to be separated for the processing of the two languages. One explanation for this is that the two languages would otherwise compete for the neuronal resources in the brain of the user. Sooner or later, there would be a mutual disturbance. I 122 Brains have evolved along with language, but most of the adaptation was on the language side. I 354 Language formation/Lieberman/Deacon: Philip Lieberman has shown in a number of influential articles that the elimination of physiological limitations of vocal formation has contributed to a rapid acceleration in the development of language(1)(2). DeaconVsLieberman: however, it would mean to over-interpret the fossil finds at hand if one wanted to ascribe the language evolution exclusively to these anatomical developments by ascribing a sudden eruption of a series of abilities to this characteristic alone. I 355 The development of the brain and the vocal system were certainly both, both effects and causes in a mutually reinforcing process of language evolution. 1. Lieberman, Ph. (1984). The Biology and Evolution of Language, Cambridge, MA. (2) Lieberman, Ph. (1991). Uniquely Human: The Evolution of Speech, Thought and Selfless Behavior, Cambridge, MA._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Dea I T. W. Deacon The Symbolic Species: The Co-evolution of language and the Brain New York 1998 Dea II Terrence W. Deacon Incomplete Nature: How Mind Emerged from Matter New York 2013 |
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> Counter arguments against Deacon
> Counter arguments in relation to Language Evolution
Ed. Martin Schulz, access date 2024-04-28