Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language

LanguageLanguage: Cultural Dynamics, Genetics: Cultural Dynamics, Genetics

Recent Attention, Gene-Culture theoryRecent Attention, Gene-Culture theory

Wang & Minnett. 2005. The invasion of language:Wang & Minnett. 2005. The invasion of language:

emergence, change and death. emergence, change and death. Trends in Ecology & EvolutionTrends in Ecology & Evolution 2020:263.:263.

Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language

Language: Distinguishes humans from other Language: Distinguishes humans from other animals? Important?animals? Important?

Language: 3 Elements (de Saussure)Language: 3 Elements (de Saussure)

LangageLangage: Physical, Cognitive & Cultural (: Physical, Cognitive & Cultural (AllAll))

LangueLangue: Words, Grammar (: Words, Grammar (Particular CultureParticular Culture))

ParoleParole: : IndividualIndividual’s speech’s speech

Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language

QuestionsQuestions::

How did language first arise?How did language first arise?

How does innovation invade & spread?How does innovation invade & spread?

How do languages compete for speakersHow do languages compete for speakers

within & between populations?within & between populations?

How do languages go extinct?How do languages go extinct?

Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language

Jones (1786): Sanskrit, Greek & LatinJones (1786): Sanskrit, Greek & Latin

Post-Darwin: Language phylogeniesPost-Darwin: Language phylogenies

TodayToday: Single ancestral language, ‘proto-Sapiens’: Single ancestral language, ‘proto-Sapiens’

vsvs ‘polygenesis’ ‘polygenesis’

Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language

160K YBP: First Modern Humans160K YBP: First Modern Humans

50K YBP: ‘Cultural Explosion’50K YBP: ‘Cultural Explosion’

Innovations, painting, funeralsInnovations, painting, funerals

Language (presumably) preceded cultural Language (presumably) preceded cultural growthgrowth

Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language

120K YBP: Human 120K YBP: Human FOXP2FOXP2 allele fixed allele fixed‘‘Grammar gene,’ apparently strong positive Grammar gene,’ apparently strong positive selection since human & chimp lineages splitselection since human & chimp lineages split

Movements of mouth & face, Movements of mouth & face, formation of linguistic syntax, formation of linguistic syntax, comprehension (?)comprehension (?)

Gesticulation/Combination/VerbalGesticulation/Combination/Verbal

FOXP2FOXP2

Fisher SE and Marcus GF (2005) The eloquent ape: genes, brains and the evolution of languageNat Rev gene. 7: 9–20 doi:10.1038/nri1747

Figure 1 A multidisciplinary perspective on language evolution.

Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language

Language Emergence:Language Emergence:

(Gene) 120K YBP < (Gene) 120K YBP < timetime < 50K YBP (Culture) < 50K YBP (Culture)

IncrementalIncremental Language ‘Strategies’ Language ‘Strategies’

Hunter-Gatherer GroupsHunter-Gatherer Groups

Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language

All Cultures Have LanguageAll Cultures Have Language

6000 languages today (many unwritten)6000 languages today (many unwritten)

50 to 90 % Extinct by 2100 (?)50 to 90 % Extinct by 2100 (?)

Socio-economic competition (cultural evolution)Socio-economic competition (cultural evolution)

English, Spanish Replace Native LanguagesEnglish, Spanish Replace Native Languages

CompetitionCompetition between Languages for Speakers between Languages for Speakers

Languages Going ExtinctLanguages Going Extincthttp://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/files/story206.phphttp://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/files/story206.php

Language Competition (Abrams & Strogatz, Language Competition (Abrams & Strogatz, 2003, 2003, NatureNature 424:900) 424:900)

Language Interaction Produces Bilingual SpeakersLanguage Interaction Produces Bilingual Speakers

Bilingual Individual: “Drop” Language if not Bilingual Individual: “Drop” Language if not economically usefuleconomically useful

One Monolingual Type Can DisappearOne Monolingual Type Can Disappear

Language Competition (Abrams & Strogatz, Language Competition (Abrams & Strogatz, 2003, 2003, NatureNature 424:900) 424:900)

Evolution of LanguageEvolution of Language

Origin & Maintenance of LanguageOrigin & Maintenance of Language

Innovation (Invasion): Words, LanguagesInnovation (Invasion): Words, Languages

Growth, Decline Use; Language ExtinctionGrowth, Decline Use; Language Extinction

Gene-Culture Evolutionary EcologyGene-Culture Evolutionary Ecology