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Evolving the language-ready brain and the social mechanisms that support language
1Computer Science, Neuroscience and the USC Brain Project, University of Southern California, HNB 03, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA. arbib@usc.edu
Journal of Communication Disorders
|May 5, 2009
Summary
The evolution of language involved imitation and protosign, supported by biological changes in mirror systems. Social interaction and general knowledge, not innate grammar, drive language emergence, as seen in Nicaraguan Sign Language.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Neuroscience
- Linguistics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The mirror-system hypothesis suggests imitation is key to language evolution.
- Protosign and protospeech are crucial precursors to complex language.
- Understanding the biological and social factors in language emergence is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of mirror systems in the evolution of the language-ready brain.
- To examine how social interaction and general language knowledge contribute to new sign language emergence.
- To differentiate between human and monkey mirror systems and their evolutionary implications.
Main Methods:
- Review of the mirror-system hypothesis regarding language evolution.
- Assessment of social interaction's role in the emergence of sign languages.
- Case study analysis of Nicaraguan Sign Language development.
Main Results:
- Imitation and protosign provided scaffolding for protospeech, requiring evolved mirror systems.
- Social structure and cultural evolution, supported by language-ready brains, yield language.
- New sign languages emerge through social interaction and general knowledge, not innate grammar.
Conclusions:
- Language evolution is a complex interplay of biological adaptations (mirror systems) and social-cultural factors.
- The emergence of sign languages highlights the power of social interaction and learning in language creation.
- Modern language acquisition mechanisms offer insights into early human language invention.
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