The Evolution Of Human Language - 2442 Words

The Evolution of language has been a subject of debate by many scholars for many years. Although there is no universal agreement on where language evolved, or how language evolved. In fact, the evolution of human language is an extremely vague topic, composed of many different theories and hypothesis, with very few instances of evidence to support them. Even though there is no universal consensus on the origin of language, many scholars can agree that language began by the use of gestures in primates and hominins. This has been seen in primates in captivity to have similar gestures of primates in the wild. Primates may lack the ability to speak a language, but they’re not completely incapable of learning to use signals to communicate. A chimpanzee named Washoe, and a Bonobo named Kanzi, prove that primates possess the capacity to acquire communication through the use of symbols, and body gestures. Early hominins are also believed to have developed some form of gestural languag e to communicate with one another on how to hunt and gather in their environment, despite the fact that their vocal tracts inhibit them from making human speech sounds; but the link between apes and humans aids in the evolution of human language because it shows the concurrent relationship of vocal modulation and manual gestures humans made. The studies on the origin of language led to many theories, but one in particular is the mirror system hypothesis, which has two types of imitations, simpleShow MoreRelatedThe Origin of Language in Human Evolution Essay1209 Words   |  5 PagesLanguage is a complex system evolved from animal cognition system not from animal communication, suggesting that only humans with complex brain system were capable of developing (Ulbaek, 1998). Whereas other animal species communicate through vocalised sounds, songs, or gestures specially primates such as apes. Similarly gestures and hand gestures were the form of communication used by early hominids, bu t Homo habilis and Homo erectus started to use vocalisations and decreasing the frequent use ofRead MoreThe Evolution of Language1707 Words   |  7 PagesThe Evolution of Language The study of language is very intriguing once you start looking a little farther into it. I read through many books and sources to help make the history of language a little more clear and found many interesting ideas. I found that something as simple as the way you use your hand could shape the brain, language, and human culture (The Hand). I also found many sources on human evolution; and digging a bit deeper into this area showed me many thoughts andRead MoreThe Theory Of Human Nature And Behavior1178 Words   |  5 Pages Human nature, or the usual behavioral patterns of most humans alive today, is influenced by a great number of characteristics, mannerisms, and unique traits that are not found in many other organisms across the globe. Two such characteristics, namely language and communication, are so distinct that they can be regarded as the main components for the development and creation of human nature itself, acting as the basis for human consciousness and development. How ever, although these social constructsRead MoreEvolution Of Language And The Brain1447 Words   |  6 Pagesinclude bio-cultural evolution, brain development, and biosemiotics. He has published 2 major books The Symbolic Species: The Co-Evolution of Language and the Brain† and â€Å"Incomplete Nature: How Mind Emerged from Matter† also coauthored several books and articles revolving semiotics. The book I will be mainly focusing on is The Symbolic Species, which tackles on his theory of the co-evolution of language and the brain. He has 3 tasks in this book first, differentiates human mode of reference (symbolicRead MoreSpeech : A Comparison Between Human And Primates1660 Words   |  7 PagesNeanderthal Speech: A Comparison Why is human speech is unique compared to other animals? Well, both humans and animals can communicate in motions, however humans can communicate in forms of signals and symbols, which could be gestures, sounds, or written words. Main differences between human and primates in regards to speech is that humans have an open vocal system while primates have a closed vocal system. Homo sapiens is probably the only animal that uses language to communicate with one another whichRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography On Human Language1116 Words   |  5 Pages(2013). â€Å"Evolution of Human Language – A Biolinguistic, Biosemiotic and Neurobiological Perspective†; Language in India, ISSN 1930-2940 Vol. 13:6, June 2013. Prà ©cis by Samantha Sutton, December 2, 2015 TOPIC In this article there are several depictions of how language has come about and how language has formed not only in humans but in the animal kingdom as well. Nehal and Afzal use several other scholars work in defining their research on the topic of human language evolution. In the articleRead More What Makes Us Human?1718 Words   |  7 PagesHumans are extremely complex and unique beings. We are animals however we often forget our origins and our place in the natural world and consider ourselves superior to nature. Humans are animals but what does it mean to be human? What are the defining characteristics that separate us from other animals? How are we different? Human origins begin with primates, however through evolution we developed unique characteristics such as larger brain sizes, the capacity for language, emotional complexityRead MoreEvaluate the Arguments, Presented in the Course, Supporting Chomsky’s Claim That Humans Are Innately Predisposed to Acquire Langua ge, Discussing Specifically What It Might Mean for Humans to Be ‘Innately Predisposed to1356 Words   |  6 PagesLanguage is our main means of communication and learning, without it we would not understand each other efficiently enough to communicate our needs and thoughts. It is a very complicated feature of human cognition. Yet children acquire language very naturally and quickly without any formal instruction. Many language experts such as Chomsky (1965) and Pinker (2000) believe this suggests that there is some innate predisposal to acquire language, by this it is meant a genetic mechanism that holds whatRead MoreSimilarities And Differences Between Rusingoryx And Hadrosaur Dinosaurs933 Words   |  4 PagesNasal dome is completely new structure for mammals. Paleontologists say that a â€Å"Pleistocene antelope with a bony nasal crest like that of some hadrosaur species is a surprising example of what’s called convergent evolution.† (Strickland, Feb.4, 201 6, para. 2). This convergent evolution can be explained by the similarities in the way Rusingoryx and hadrosaurs lived. Such as â€Å"Rusingoryx and hadrosaurs enjoyed very similar lifestyles: both grazed in herds on wide, grassy plains. O’Brien and her colleaguesRead MoreThe Full Scope Of Human Life871 Words   |  4 PagesHumans are an interesting species because of the strong need humans have to fully understand what it truly means to be human. Many fields such as history, psychology, and sociology all offer a perspective in the study of humanity, but there are distinguishable from anthropology. Anthropology differs from other humanities fields due to its holistic nature, comparative research methods, and the strong emphasis on fieldwork and participant interaction. Anthropology is the study of people throughout