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The origins of language in teaching
1Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, Scotland, UK. knl1@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Abstract:
I introduce seven criteria for determining the validity of competing theories for the original function of language. I go on to present a novel explanation that meets all the criteria: language originally evolved to teach kin. I suggest that the use of symbols subsequently generated evolutionary feedback at two levels, in the form of self-modified selection pressures that favored structures in the mind that functioned to manipulate and use symbols with efficiency, and cultural selection on languages for learnability.
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