Evolution of Language Language: Cultural Dynamics, Genetics Recent Attention, Gene-Culture theory Wang & Minnett. 2005. The invasion of language: emergence, change and death. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 20:263. Evolution of Language Language: Distinguishes humans from other animals? Important? Language: 3 Elements (de Saussure) Langage: Physical, Cognitive & Cultural (All) Langue: Words, Grammar (Particular Culture) Parole: Individual’s speech Evolution of Language Questions: How did language first arise? How does innovation invade & spread? How do languages compete for speakers within & between populations? How do languages go extinct? Evolution of Language Jones (1786): Sanskrit, Greek & Latin Post-Darwin: Language phylogenies Today: Single ancestral language, ‘proto-Sapiens’ vs ‘polygenesis’ Evolution of Language 160K YBP: First Modern Humans 50K YBP: ‘Cultural Explosion’ Innovations, painting, funerals Language (presumably) preceded cultural growth Evolution of Language 120K YBP: Human FOXP2 allele fixed ‘Grammar gene,’ apparently strong positive selection since human & chimp lineages split Movements of mouth & face, formation of linguistic syntax, comprehension (?) Gesticulation/Combination/Verbal FOXP2 Figure 1 A multidisciplinary perspective on language evolution. Fisher SE and Marcus GF (2005) The eloquent ape: genes, brains and the evolution of language Nat Rev gene. 7: 9–20 doi:10.1038/nri1747 Evolution of Language Language Emergence: (Gene) 120K YBP < time < 50K YBP (Culture) Incremental Language ‘Strategies’ Hunter-Gatherer Groups Evolution of Language All Cultures Have Language 6000 languages today (many unwritten) 50 to 90 % Extinct by 2100 (?) Socio-economic competition (cultural evolution) English, Spanish Replace Native Languages Competition between Languages for Speakers Languages Going Extinct http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/files/story206.php Language Competition (Abrams & Strogatz, 2003, Nature 424:900) Language Interaction Produces Bilingual Speakers Bilingual Individual: “Drop” Language if not economically useful One Monolingual Type Can Disappear Language Competition (Abrams & Strogatz, 2003, Nature 424:900) Evolution of Language Origin & Maintenance of Language Innovation (Invasion): Words, Languages Growth, Decline Use; Language Extinction Gene-Culture Evolutionary Ecology
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