Christiansen, Morten H., Chater, Nick and Reali, Florencia (2009) The biological and cultural foundations of language. Communicative & Integrative Biology , Vol.2 (No.3). pp. 221-222. ISSN 1942-0889 doi:10.4161/cib.2.3.8034
Research output not available from this repository.
Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.
Abstract
A key challenge for theories of language evolution is to explain why language is the way it is and how it came to be that way. It is clear that how we learn and use language is governed by genetic constraints. However, the nature of these innate constraints has been the subject of much debate. Although many accounts of language evolution have emphasized the importance of biological adaptations specific to language, we discuss evidence from computer simulations pointing to strong restrictions on such adaptations. Instead, we argue that processes of cultural evolution have been the primary factor affecting the evolution of linguistic structure, suggesting that the genetic constraints on language largely predate the emergence of language itself.
| Item Type: | Journal Item |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Behavioural Science Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Communicative & Integrative Biology |
| Publisher: | Landes Bioscience |
| ISSN: | 1942-0889 |
| Official Date: | February 2009 |
| Dates: | Date Event February 2009 Published |
| Volume: | Vol.2 |
| Number: | No.3 |
| Number of Pages: | 2 |
| Page Range: | pp. 221-222 |
| DOI: | 10.4161/cib.2.3.8034 |
| Status: | Not Peer Reviewed |
| Publication Status: | Published |
| Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons open licence) |
| URI: | https://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/44351/ |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
 |
View Item |