Origin of LanguageOrigin of Languagehardest problem in sciencehardest problem in science

Eric La Freniere - JMU WRTC - Graduate Research FellowshipEric La Freniere - JMU WRTC - Graduate Research Fellowship

defining traitdefining trait

mythsmyths

Noam ChomskyNoam Chomsky

Preface to a General Theory of thePreface to a General Theory of theOrigin of LanguageOrigin of Language

as a Function ofas a Function ofBrain Hemispheric InteractionBrain Hemispheric Interaction

complexitycomplexity

outlineoutline

interdisciplinarityinterdisciplinarity

skeletonskeleton

WeaveInterdisciplinary Model

WeaveInterdisciplinary Model

11 22

33

evolutionarysystems

evolutionarysystems

neuro-psychology

neuro-psychology

linguisticslinguistics

evolutionarypsychologyevolutionarypsychology

neuro-linguistics

neuro-linguistics

generativeanthropology

generativeanthropology

11 22

33

evolutionarysystems

evolutionarysystems

neuro-psychology

neuro-psychology

linguisticslinguistics

VennInterdisciplinary Model

VennInterdisciplinary Model

evolutionary systemsevolutionary systems

neuropsychologyneuropsychology

linguisticslinguistics

emergentpropertiesemergentproperties

scaledself-similarity

scaledself-similarity

332211

Nested / EmergentInterdisciplinary Model

Nested / EmergentInterdisciplinary Model

signaling / abstraction / representation-communicationsignaling / abstraction / representation-communication

contingency-based (not instinctive)contingency-based (not instinctive)

memes (not genes):artifacts-behaviors-ideas

memes (not genes):artifacts-behaviors-ideas

imitation - mirror neuronsimitation - mirror neurons

replicationrecombination

mutationselective pressures

replicationrecombination

mutationselective pressures

working understanding of “language”working understanding of “language”

scaledself-similarity

scaledself-similarity

emergentpropertiesemergentproperties

CHARLESDARWINCHARLESDARWINclassical

gradualism(setting the

stage)

classicalgradualism(setting the

stage)

instantaneous speciation: “hopeful monster”instantaneous speciation: “hopeful monster”

punctuated equilibrium(raising the curtain)

punctuated equilibrium(raising the curtain)

STEPHEN GOULDSTEPHEN GOULD

intelligence: adaptabilityselective pressures

evolution: complexity

intelligence: adaptabilityselective pressures

evolution: complexity 11evolutionarysystems

evolutionarysystems

billions of years agobillions of years ago

origin ofEarth

origin ofEarth

EMERGING COMPLEXITYEMERGING COMPLEXITY

prokaryotic life(simple cells)

prokaryotic life(simple cells)

eukaryotic life(nucleus)

eukaryotic life(nucleus)

multicellular lifemulticellular life

brains & eyesbrains & eyes

11223344

power law curvepower law curve

“Cambrian explosion”“Cambrian explosion”

selective pressure:other organisms

selective pressure:other organisms

brains & eyesbrains & eyes

chordates, fishchordates, fish

11evolutionarysystems

evolutionarysystems

FISH EYES & BRAINFISH EYES & BRAIN

non-overlapping visionnon-overlapping visioncrossing optic nervescrossing optic nervesno corpus callosumno corpus callosum

lateralizationlateralization

feedback-modulated bistable system feedback-modulated bistable system

retreat: “fight or flight”gestalt, field-dependent

retreat: “fight or flight”gestalt, field-dependent

approach: “feed or f*ck”abstraction, field-independent

approach: “feed or f*ck”abstraction, field-independent

22neuro-psychology

neuro-psychology

EMERGING COMPLEXITYEMERGING COMPLEXITY

fishfish

amphibiansamphibians

reptilesreptiles

mammalsmammals

millions of years agomillions of years ago100100200200300300400400500500600600 22neuro-

psychologyneuro-

psychology

mammalian brain:lateralizedconnected

mammalian brain:lateralizedconnected

22neuro-psychology

neuro-psychology

500 million yearsof brain-based

intelligence: adaptability

no evidence of tool useno evidence of language

animal signaling systems:instinctive

not learnednot recombinative

not capable of novelty

500 million yearsof brain-based

intelligence: adaptability

no evidence of tool useno evidence of language

animal signaling systems:instinctive

not learnednot recombinative

not capable of novelty

EMERGING COMPLEXITYEMERGING COMPLEXITY

millions of years agomillions of years ago

H. habilisH. habilis H. habilis toolkitH. habilis toolkit

H. erectusH. erectusH. erectus toolkitH. erectus toolkit

H. sapiensneanderthal.

H. sapiensneanderthal.

Neanderthal toolkitNeanderthal toolkitH. sapiens

sapiensH. sapiens

sapiens

.5.51.01.01.51.5222.52.533 22neuro-psychology

neuro-psychology

punctuated equilibrium“hopeful monster”

modern humanityemergence: ~200 kya

upper paleolithic50 kya

“creative explosion”

punctuated equilibrium“hopeful monster”

emergence: ~200 kya

upper paleolithic50 kya

“creative explosion”

modern humanity

EMERGING COMPLEXITYEMERGING COMPLEXITY

millions of years agomillions of years ago

H. sapienssapiens

H. sapienssapiens

.5.51.01.01.51.5222.52.533

33linguisticslinguistics

33linguisticslinguistics

“butterfly effect”schizophrenia

speciation event

“butterfly effect”schizophrenia

speciation event

tool use - abstraction (activity theory)tool use - abstraction (activity theory)

abstract:to draw or take away, to remove or isolate

abstract:to draw or take away, to remove or isolate

approachleft

abstraction

deliberativeword

approachleft

abstraction

deliberativeword

retreatrightgestaltimageimmediate

retreatrightgestaltimageimmediate

punctuated equilibrium“hopeful monster”

modern humanity

point mutation

punctuated equilibrium“hopeful monster”

point mutation

modern humanity

punctuated equilibrium“hopeful monster”

modern humanityemergence: ~200 kya

punctuated equilibrium“hopeful monster”

emergence: ~200 kyamodern humanity

approachleft

abstraction

deliberativelinear

logicalfocused

grammatical

word

approachleft

abstraction

deliberativelinear

logicalfocused

grammatical

word

retreatrightgestaltimageimmediateassociativeaffectiveholisticcontextual

retreatrightgestaltimageimmediateassociativeaffectiveholisticcontextual

ROGER SPERRY(1913-1994)

ROGER SPERRY(1913-1994)

MICHAEL GAZZANIGA(b. 1939)

MICHAEL GAZZANIGA(b. 1939)

“split-brain” subjects“split-brain” subjects

generalization v.generalization v.oversimplificationoversimplification

22neuro-psychology

neuro-psychology

evolution

nested structures

lateralization

molecular level

cellular level

tissue level

evolution

nested structures

molecular level

cellular level

tissue level

lateralization

planum temporale

auditory cortex - sylvian fissure

Wernicke’s area - Broca’s area

massive asymmetry

yakovlevian torque

planum temporale

auditory cortex - sylvian fissure

Wernicke’s area - Broca’s area

massive asymmetry

yakovlevian torque

x5x5 x1x1

11evolutionarysystems

evolutionarysystems

approachleft

abstraction

Wernicke & Broca

contingency- basedabstraction

word

approachleft

abstraction

Wernicke & Broca

contingency- basedabstraction

word

retreatrightgestaltimagefusiform facial area

affectively prioritzedsense data

retreatrightgestaltimagefusiform facial area

affectively prioritzedsense data 33linguisticslinguistics

FERDINANDDE SAUSSURE(1857-1913)

FERDINANDDE SAUSSURE(1857-1913)

contingency-based

abstraction

language

signs (signals)

1. signifier

2. signified

word image

contingency-based

abstraction

signs (signals)

1. signifier

2. signified

word image

language

utteranceutterance

genetic-organicevolution

genetic-organicevolution

memetic-culturalevolution

memetic-culturalevolution

lifelife

mindmind

languagelanguage332211

religion-art?religion-art?

farming?farming?

writing?writing?332211