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Language and tool making are similar cognitive processes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2012

Ralph L. Holloway
Ralph L. Holloway
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027. rlh2@columbia.edu http://www.columbia.edu/~rlh2
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Abstract

Design features for language and stone toolmaking (not tool use) involve similar if not homologous cognitive processes. Both are arbitrary transformations of internal “intrinsic” symbolization, whereas non-human tool using is mostly an iconic transformation. The major discontinuity between humans and non-humans (chimpanzees) is language. The presence of stone tools made to standardized patterns suggests communicative and social control skills that involved language.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , August 2012 , pp. 226
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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