Sequence representation as an early step in the evolution of language

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Evolutionary Biology
• Linguistics

Background:

• Human language's unique properties (compositionality, open-endedness, sequentiality) pose challenges for evolutionary explanations.
• Existing theories often focus solely on communication advantages, neglecting other necessary cognitive prerequisites.
• The evolution of language requires understanding why it evolved in humans but not other animals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the evolutionary trajectory of language by examining the role of sequence representation.
• To identify the costs and necessary conditions for the evolution of domain-general sequence representation.
• To propose a novel evolutionary pathway for human cognition and language.

Main Methods:

• Formal evolutionary analyses of the utility of sequence representation.
• Modeling the costs associated with sequence representation.
• Evaluating the impact of existing animal memory systems on language-related abilities.

Main Results:

• Sequence representation is evolutionarily costly.
• Current animal memory systems may impede the development of language-essential abilities.
• Flexibility to ignore irrelevant information is vital for sequence representation to evolve.
• Abundant useful sequential information and extensive learning opportunities are necessary conditions.

Conclusions:

• A novel, plausible evolutionary trajectory for human cognition and language is proposed.
• Human culture may be fundamentally rooted in sequential representational and processing abilities.
• The evolution of language is contingent on specific cognitive prerequisites beyond mere communication advantages.