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Related Concept Videos

Language Development01:22

Language Development

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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...
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Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

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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.
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Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

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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...
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Convergent Evolution01:54

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Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
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Language and Cognition01:27

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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.
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Language01:16

Language

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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...
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Related Experiment Video

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Evolution of vocal learning and spoken language.

Erich D Jarvis1,2

  • 1Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 12, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Animal studies reveal that components of spoken language are shared across species. Vocal learning, a key component of speech, evolved from ancient motor pathways, offering insights into human language evolution and disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Comparative psychology
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Spoken language is often considered a uniquely human trait.
  • Recent decades have seen increased research into nonhuman animal vocalizations and communication.
  • These studies offer insights into the evolution of human speech.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize recent findings from nonhuman animal studies on spoken language.
  • To present an evolution-based perspective on the continuity of speech components across species.
  • To elucidate the evolutionary origins of vocal learning and its implications for human language.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of behavioral, neurobiological, and molecular studies in nonhuman animals.
  • Evolutionary analysis of vocal learning pathways.

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  • Comparative analysis of speech components across species.

    • Main Results:

    • Key components of spoken language demonstrate continuity between humans and other species.
    • Vocal learning is identified as a highly specialized and rare trait.
    • Vocal learning evolved through the duplication of an ancient motor learning pathway.

    Conclusions:

    • Understanding nonhuman animal communication is crucial for deciphering human spoken language evolution.
    • The evolutionary trajectory of vocal learning provides a framework for studying speech mechanisms.
    • These insights have significant implications for understanding brain disorders affecting spoken language.