Linguistic Anthropology. Found in all human groups Develops along similar lines in all children ...
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Transcript of Linguistic Anthropology. Found in all human groups Develops along similar lines in all children ...
Linguistic Anthropology
Found in all human groups
Develops along similar lines in all children
Can even develop in individuals with impairments
A product of human evolution
FOSSIL RECORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD
Pharynx Back of throat space for tongue
Larynx Location of vocal
cords
Human infants born with high larynx Begins to lower at three months Reaches adult location by 3-4 years
Except in adult males: further descent at adolescence.
Lowering of the larynx Adult humans cannot
breathe and swallow at the same time
Lengthening of the pharynx Provides more space
for tongue Enables increased
vowel resonance Differentiation of
vowels: [i] [a] [u]
a.k.a. the ”lingual bone”
Does not directly articulate with other
bones
Red Howler Monkey(Alouatta seniculus)
Position of hyoid bones (shaded) with tongue retracted (A) and extended (B), shown in the hairy woodpecker (Dendrocopos villosus). Northern
Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
The hyoid apparatus and skull of a flicker
(Colaptes sp.)
Torso (left) and hyoid bone (above) ofNeanderthal individual known as
Kebara 2ca. 60,000 B.P.
(Kebara Cave, Israel)
Morphology of hyoid bone is essentially modern
Lack of preserved soft tissue makes it difficult to assess whether the rest of the Neanderthal vocal apparatus was like that of modern humans
The short answer: we cannot yet say…
Cortex Convoluted surface of the
brain Two millimeters thick Surface area 1.5 square
yards Contains 100 million
neurons
Oldest part of cortex Controls long term
memory and emotion
Newer part of cortex “Neocortex” Controls language 80% of human brain Divided (by sulci) into
lobes Frontal Temporal Parietal Occipital
Broca’s area Clarity of speech Function words Some word
order Wernicke’s
area Understanding
words Producing
sentences
Fossilized face (left) and cranial endocast (right) of the “Taung” child
(Australopithecus africanus)
Reveal details of the brain case, which in turn reflect some detail of the brain’s surface
Do not provide an indication of the internal structures or architecture of the brain
Endocasts of several Australopithecus specimens
Position of lunate sulcus posterior in Australopithecus
Anterior to lunate sulcus: posterior parietal cerebral cortex
Responsible in humans for object appreciation, facial recognition, and social communication
Endocast of Stw 505 (A. africanus)(Sterkfontein, South Africa)
(ca. 3 mya – 2 mya)
Above: Virtual endocast of LB1 (Homo Floresiensis)
Right: LB1 (middle); mcHS (microcephalic Homo sapiens) HS
(Homo sapiens); He (Homo erectus); PT (Pan
troglodytes)
Indicate aspects of brain reorganization that may have led to the development of features now associated with language
Do not demonstrate that these features were used for language
Reconstructed brain and endocast of Zhoukoudian V
(Homo erectus)(ca. 400,000-500,000 ya)
Point mutation in humans results in
defects in the grammatical processing of words difficulties understanding complex sentence structures inability to form intelligible speechdefects in the ability to move the mouth and face not associated with speaking significantly reduced IQ
Vernes SC, Oliver PL, Spiteri E, Lockstone HE, Puliyadi R, et al. (2011) Foxp2 Regulates Gene Networks Implicated in Neurite Outgrowth in the Developing Brain. PLoS Genet 7(7) http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1002145; accessed 2 Sept. 2013
Chromosome 7 Codes for
transcription factor (protein that regulates neural development)
715 amino acids Difference of 2
amino acids in chimpanzee vs. human proteins
Mutation likely arose 10,000-100,000 yBP
Image modified from Enard et al, 'Molecular evolution of FOXP2, a gene involved in speech and language', Nature 418, 869 - 872, (2002); found at http://www.evolutionpages.com/FOXP2_language.htm; accessed 2 September 2013.
250 to 500 kyaFranschhoek, South
Africa
550 kyanorth-east Norfolk,
England
How to make a handaxe
Blombos Cave - Ochre Tablet Ca. 73 kya
Blombos Cave Shell Beadsca. 73 kya
Acheulean figurine, Israel
ca. 230 kya
Hyena – Chauvet Cave, Franceca. 32 kya
HarappaCa. 5,500 B.P.
EgyptCa. 5,300 – 5,200 B.P.
Left: Cuneiform text, MesopotamiaCa. 5,100 B.P.
We cannot clearly determine when human language first emerged
Both anatomical and artifactual material suggests that human intelligence evolved in a series of steps
A gradual emergence? A “final” step? We do not yet know…