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Evolutionary principles and the emergence of syntax

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

P. Thomas Schoenemann
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3710 and Center for Functional Imaging Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720schoenem@qal.berkeley.edu
William S.-Y. Wang
Affiliation:
Project on Linguistic Analysis Department of Linguistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-2170 and Department of Electronic Engineering City University of Hong Kong Kowloon, Hong Kong. wsyw@violet.berkeley.edu

Abstract

The belief that syntax is an innate, autonomous, species-specific module is highly questionable. Syntax demonstrates the mosaic nature of evolutionary change, in that it made use of (and led to the enhancement of) numerous preexisting neurocognitive features. It is best understood as an emergent characteristic of the explosion of semantic complexity that occurred during hominid evolution.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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