ANT 2033 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Cooperative Breeding, Bipedalism, Homo Erectus
Document Summary
Language is the most obvious difference between humans and all other animals, and arguably the most important one. Major differences between human language and animal communication are present in: speech production: descended larynx and modified hyoid bone, brain control: pre-existing areas dedicated to speech control (broca"s and. Apes have a rudimentary use of syntax (evidence from sign language) The ability for syntax is present in other primates, but had a different function, and was subsequently ex-apted for use in language. Two types of syntax: intentional, referential, ex. A high ranked monkey yelling at a lower monkey vs. The lower monkey yelling at the higher ranked monkey. It evolved independently multiple times in birds and mammals. Uniquely derived (novel) features: only present in humans, productivity (open-endedness) Syntax ( the cat eats the mouse. does not equal the mouse eats the cat. ) Availability of a larger number of words: phoneme use. Full use of the productivity property of language.
