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Related Concept Videos

Language01:16

Language

973
Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
973
Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

876
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
876
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

909
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
909
Language Development01:22

Language Development

1.0K
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
1.0K
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

4.0K
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
4.0K
Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature02:54

Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature

27.6K
In most main group element compounds, the valence electrons of the isolated atoms combine to form chemical bonds that satisfy the octet rule. For instance, the four valence electrons of carbon overlap with electrons from four hydrogen atoms to form CH4. The one valence electron leaves sodium and adds to the seven valence electrons of chlorine to form the ionic formula unit NaCl (Figure 1a). Transition metals do not normally bond in this fashion. They primarily form coordinate covalent bonds, a...
27.6K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 8, 2026

The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition
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The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition

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Language as a coordination tool evolves slowly.

Tamas David-Barrett1, Robin I M Dunbar2

  • 1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK; Facultad de Gobierno, CICS, Universidad del Desarrollo, Av. Plaza 680, San Carlos de Apoquindo, Las Condes, Santiago de Chile 7610658, Chile; Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Kiellinie 66, 24105 Kiel, Germany; Population Research Institute, Väestöliitto, Kalevankatu 16, Helsinki 00101, Finland.

Royal Society Open Science
|January 14, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Efficient communication evolved in humans due to the need for social coordination. This evolution was slow initially but accelerated once a basic level of language competence was reached, benefiting group behavior.

Keywords:
agent-based modelscommunication efficiencycosts of communicationlanguage evolutionsocial coordinationsocial group size

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Cognitive science
  • Anthropology

Background:

  • Social living requires effective coordination among group members.
  • Communication is essential for enabling coordinated behavior.
  • The evolution of human language is a key area of scientific inquiry.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of communication efficiency as a selection pressure in human language evolution.
  • To model the impact of communication efficiency on social group coordination.
  • To understand the dynamics of language evolution in social contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a behavioral coordination model.
  • Simulation of group interactions with varying communication efficiencies.
  • Analysis of selection pressures favoring efficient communication.

Main Results:

  • Efficient communication is selected for when language production is costly but coordination benefits are high.
  • The evolution of efficient communication is initially slow due to the lack of individual advantage for exceeding community norms.
  • A threshold in communication competence can lead to rapid advancement in higher-order language skills.

Conclusions:

  • Communication efficiency is a significant factor in the evolution of human language.
  • The evolutionary trajectory of language involves an initial slow phase followed by potential rapid development.
  • Understanding these dynamics provides insights into human social behavior and cognitive evolution.