Evolution of Language Language : Cultural Dynamics, Genetics Recent Attention, Gene-Culture theory...
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Transcript of Evolution of Language Language : Cultural Dynamics, Genetics Recent Attention, Gene-Culture theory...
Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language
LanguageLanguage: Cultural Dynamics, Genetics: Cultural Dynamics, Genetics
Recent Attention, Gene-Culture theoryRecent Attention, Gene-Culture theory
Wang & Minnett. 2005. The invasion of language:Wang & Minnett. 2005. The invasion of language:
emergence, change and death. emergence, change and death. Trends in Ecology & EvolutionTrends in Ecology & Evolution 2020:263.:263.
Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language
Language: Distinguishes humans from other Language: Distinguishes humans from other animals? Important?animals? Important?
Language: 3 Elements (de Saussure)Language: 3 Elements (de Saussure)
LangageLangage: Physical, Cognitive & Cultural (: Physical, Cognitive & Cultural (AllAll))
LangueLangue: Words, Grammar (: Words, Grammar (Particular CultureParticular Culture))
ParoleParole: : IndividualIndividual’s speech’s speech
Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language
QuestionsQuestions::
How did language first arise?How did language first arise?
How does innovation invade & spread?How does innovation invade & spread?
How do languages compete for speakersHow do languages compete for speakers
within & between populations?within & between populations?
How do languages go extinct?How do languages go extinct?
Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language
Jones (1786): Sanskrit, Greek & LatinJones (1786): Sanskrit, Greek & Latin
Post-Darwin: Language phylogeniesPost-Darwin: Language phylogenies
TodayToday: Single ancestral language, ‘proto-Sapiens’: Single ancestral language, ‘proto-Sapiens’
vsvs ‘polygenesis’ ‘polygenesis’
Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language
160K YBP: First Modern Humans160K YBP: First Modern Humans
50K YBP: ‘Cultural Explosion’50K YBP: ‘Cultural Explosion’
Innovations, painting, funeralsInnovations, painting, funerals
Language (presumably) preceded cultural Language (presumably) preceded cultural growthgrowth
Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language
120K YBP: Human 120K YBP: Human FOXP2FOXP2 allele fixed allele fixed‘‘Grammar gene,’ apparently strong positive Grammar gene,’ apparently strong positive selection since human & chimp lineages splitselection since human & chimp lineages split
Movements of mouth & face, Movements of mouth & face, formation of linguistic syntax, formation of linguistic syntax, comprehension (?)comprehension (?)
Gesticulation/Combination/VerbalGesticulation/Combination/Verbal
FOXP2FOXP2
Fisher SE and Marcus GF (2005) The eloquent ape: genes, brains and the evolution of languageNat Rev gene. 7: 9–20 doi:10.1038/nri1747
Figure 1 A multidisciplinary perspective on language evolution.
Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language
Language Emergence:Language Emergence:
(Gene) 120K YBP < (Gene) 120K YBP < timetime < 50K YBP (Culture) < 50K YBP (Culture)
IncrementalIncremental Language ‘Strategies’ Language ‘Strategies’
Hunter-Gatherer GroupsHunter-Gatherer Groups
Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language
All Cultures Have LanguageAll Cultures Have Language
6000 languages today (many unwritten)6000 languages today (many unwritten)
50 to 90 % Extinct by 2100 (?)50 to 90 % Extinct by 2100 (?)
Socio-economic competition (cultural evolution)Socio-economic competition (cultural evolution)
English, Spanish Replace Native LanguagesEnglish, Spanish Replace Native Languages
CompetitionCompetition between Languages for Speakers between Languages for Speakers
Languages Going ExtinctLanguages Going Extincthttp://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/files/story206.phphttp://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/files/story206.php
Language Competition (Abrams & Strogatz, Language Competition (Abrams & Strogatz, 2003, 2003, NatureNature 424:900) 424:900)
Language Interaction Produces Bilingual SpeakersLanguage Interaction Produces Bilingual Speakers
Bilingual Individual: “Drop” Language if not Bilingual Individual: “Drop” Language if not economically usefuleconomically useful
One Monolingual Type Can DisappearOne Monolingual Type Can Disappear
Language Competition (Abrams & Strogatz, Language Competition (Abrams & Strogatz, 2003, 2003, NatureNature 424:900) 424:900)
Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language
Origin & Maintenance of LanguageOrigin & Maintenance of Language
Innovation (Invasion): Words, LanguagesInnovation (Invasion): Words, Languages
Growth, Decline Use; Language ExtinctionGrowth, Decline Use; Language Extinction
Gene-Culture Evolutionary EcologyGene-Culture Evolutionary Ecology