Transcript The Biology and Origins of Language Part 2

The Biology and Origins of
Language
Part 2
Tonal Language Example
Mandarin Tone Use
Word
Intonation
ba
[/]
ba
[--]
ba
[\/]
ba
[\]
Meaning
to uproot
eight
to hold
a harrow
Genes and Language
The newer version of ASPM is
traced back to 5800 years ago.
The newer version of
Microcephalin is traced back to
37,000 years ago.
(Dan Dediu and Robert Ladd of the University of
Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2007)
When did language
first appear in
humans?
?????????
Fossil Evidence for Language
1
Indicator Endocasts
Fossil
Australopithecus
africanus/Taung Baby
Age
3 MYA
Feature
Lunate sulcus farther back
(language than in apes as in modern
present)
human brains
Proponent Ralph Hollowell
Oponent
Dean Faulk
Australopithicines
Australopithecines
lived between 5
and 2 million
years ago.
(Artists rendition
based on skeletal
and muscular
reconstruction.)
Location of the Lunate Sulcus
Front of
the brain
Back of
the brain
Fossil Evidence for Language
2
Indicator
Endocasts
Fossil
Homo habilis/ER 1470
Age
2 MYA
Feature
Broca's Area sulci may be
present
(language
present)
Proponents Hollowell and Faulk
Fossil Evidence for Language
3
Indicator
Fossil
Total brain size
Age
Feature
2 MYA
(language
present)
Homo habilis cranial capacity
jumps from 400cc in
Australopithecines to 600cc
Large increase in neurological
connections
Proponents
Deacon says jump in cranial
capacity shows language
Opponents
Say specialized language organs
more important than total size
Australopithecus vs.
Homo habilis
Homo habilis
600 cc
Australopithecus
400 cc
Fossil Evidence for Language
4
Indicator
Fossil
Age
Feature
(language
present)
Proponents
Opponents
Thoracic vertebral canal
Homo sapiens
(H. erectus/WT 15000 does
not have enlargement)
100,000 years ago
Enlarged for increased
nerve bundles to control
breathing adapted to speech
Ann McLarnon
Homo erectus
Homo erectus
lived between 1.5
and .5 million
years ago. They
hunted large
game and
gathered plant
foods.
(Artists
rendition based
on skeletal and
muscular
reconstruction.)
Fossil Evidence for Language
5
Indicator
Fossil
Age
Feature
Reconstructed vocal tracts
including tongues
Homo neanderthalensis
100,000 years ago
Reconstruction of modern
tongue size scaled to fit
(no
language)
Neanderthal throat reaches
down into the chest cavity
Proponents Philip Lieberman
Opponents
Homo neanderthalensis
Neanderthals lived
between 200,000
and 28,000 years
ago in what is now
Europe and the
Middle East. There
is evidence that
they may have
buried their dead,
and that they may
have had other
religious rituals.
(Artists rendition
based on skeletal
and muscular
reconstruction.)
Neanderthal
Throat/Tongue Ratios
Fossil Evidence for Language
6
Indicator
Fossil
Age
Feature
(language
present)
Proponents
Opponents
Basicranium shape
Homo sapiens sapiens
100,000 years ago
Basicranial angle more
pronounced in H. sapiens
than other hominids
indicating language
Jeffrey Laitman
Basocranial Shape
in Chimps and Hominids
Why Language?
Why Language?
Why Language?
Powerpoint Study Guide
Endocast
Lunate sulcus
Basocranial shape
Australopithecus
Homo habilis
Homo erectus
Neandertal
Homo sapiens
Social bonding
Grooming
Vocal grooming
Body Size
r Selection
K selection
Brain to Body Ratio
Cortical Brain
Non-Cortical Brain
Brain Lateralization
Broca’s Area
Wernicke’s Area
Geschwind’s Territory
Arcuate Fasiculus
Aphasia
FOXP2 Gene
ASPM Gene
Microcephalin Gene
Tonal Languages