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The potential for genetic adaptations to language

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2008

Mark Pagel  and
Quentin D. Atkinson
Mark Pagel
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AJ, United Kingdomm.pagel@reading.ac.ukwww.evolution.rdg.ac.uk
Quentin D. Atkinson
Affiliation:
Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6PN, United Kingdom. quentin.atkinson@anthro.ox.ac.ukhttp://users.ox.ac.uk/~soca0108/Quentins_website/Home.html
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Abstract

We suggest there is somewhat more potential than Christiansen & Chater (C&C) allow for genetic adaptations specific to language. Our uniquely cooperative social system requires sophisticated language skills. Learning and performance of some culturally transmitted elements in animals is genetically based, and we give examples of features of human language that evolve slowly enough that genetic adaptations to them may arise.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 31 , Issue 5 , October 2008 , pp. 529 - 530
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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