Language change and language evolution: Cousins, siblings, twins?

Abstract

The relationship between “language change” and “language evolution” has recently become subject to some debate regarding the scope of both concepts. It has been claimed that while the latter used to refer to language origins in the first place, both terms can now, to a certain extent, be used synonymously. In this paper, I argue that this can partly be explained by parallel develop-ments both in historical linguistics and in the field of language evolution research that have led to a considerable amount of convergence between both fields. Both have adopted usage-based approaches and data-driven methods, which entails similar research questions and similar perspectives on the phenomena under investigation. This has ramifications for current models and theories of language change (or evolution). Two approaches in particular – the concept of com-plex adaptive systems and construction grammar – have been combined in integrated approaches that seek to explain both language emergence and language change over historical time. I discuss the potential and limitations of this integrated approach, and I argue that there is still some unex-plored potential for cross-fertilization.

Expression Unleashed: The evolutionary & cognitive foundations of human communication

“…In sum, we are suggesting that language evolution-not to mention language change -is driven by largely the same cognitive processes that govern ostensive communication more broadly (on the relationships between language change, language emergence and language evolution see e.g. Heine & Kuteva, 2002;Brentari & Goldin-Meadow, 2017;Hartmann, 2020). Communicative behaviour needs to be sufficiently like previous behaviour that its most relevant interpretation is that it is a reference to the past.…”