Abstract

ORPHAO DE CARVALHO, Fernando. Language evolution: consensus, controversies and something else. Ciênc. cogn. [online]. 2006, vol.7, n.1, pp. 02-13. ISSN 1806-5821.

Why does language show the particular features described by linguistic theory? How language came about? Why our species alone may be called 'linguistic'? The way these and other questions are being answered by the expanding field of 'evolutionary linguistics' is the subject of a review by M. Christiansen and S. Kirby (Language Evolution: Consensus and Controversies, TCS, 7: 300-307), two exponents researches of this field. In the present work it is pointed out a different perspective on some foundational issues about the phylogenetic origins of human language, as well as to express some interesting evidence and hypothesis not directly approached by Cristiansen and Kirby. © Ciências & Cognição 2006; Vol. 07: 02-13.

Keywords : language faculty; evolution; neuroscience of language; adaptation.

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