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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies
Published on: August 4, 2023
Message and medium: Lowly and action-related origins
Peter F Macneilage1, Barbara L Davis
1Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 macneilage@psy.utexas.edu.
This study proposes an action-based scenario for language evolution, focusing on the vocal auditory medium. It complements existing theories by detailing the evolution of conceptual precursors to words.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary linguistics
- Cognitive science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Existing theories on the evolution of language precursors, such as Hurford's, require further development regarding the role of action.
- Understanding the message level of lexical concepts and the medium of communication is crucial for a complete evolutionary picture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a complementary action-based scenario for the evolution of conceptual precursors to lexical items.
- To address the need for an action-based framework for both the message level and the medium of language.
Main Methods:
- Summarizing a proposed action-based (frame/content) scenario.
- Anchoring the scenario in a phylogenetically old neurological dichotomy.
- Focusing on the vocal auditory medium of language.
Main Results:
- The proposed scenario offers a framework for understanding the evolution of language rooted in action.
- It integrates the message level (concepts) and medium (vocal auditory) within an evolutionary context.
- The scenario aligns with existing evolutionary frameworks by utilizing a neurological dichotomy.
Conclusions:
- An action-based scenario provides a more complete understanding of language evolution.
- The vocal auditory medium's evolution is better explained by incorporating action and neurological underpinnings.
- This work complements existing theories and opens new avenues for research in language evolution.
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