origin of language - unifiedtheoryofpsychology · origin of language hardest problem in science...
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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
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evolutionarysystems
evolutionarysystems
neuro-psychology
neuro-psychology
linguisticslinguistics
evolutionarypsychologyevolutionarypsychology
neuro-linguistics
neuro-linguistics
generativeanthropology
generativeanthropology
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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