New perspectives on duality of patterning: Introduction to the special issue

Boer, Bart de; Sandler, Wendy; Kirby, Simon

doi:10.1515/langcog-2012-0014

Cited by 40 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…However, no one knows how many words you actually need for effective language, whether signed or vocalized. If intonation -most likely a primitive capacity that precedes language (see Fitch 2010) -were allowed into the system, it is conceivable that, in the vocal modality as well, functional language with words at the core could have developed before duality of patterning (de Boer et al 2012). …”

Section: Words Firstmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vive la différence: Sign language and spoken language in language evolution

Sandler

2013

Lang. cogn.

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Michael Arbib's book proposes a scenario of language evolution that begins with pantomime, progresses to proto-sign, and then develops together with proto-speech in an "expanding spiral" to create a language-ready brain. The richness of detail in Arbib's hypothesis makes serious appraisal of each of its aspects possible. Here I describe findings about established and emerging sign languages that bear specifically upon the interaction between sign and speech proposed in the Mirror System Hypothesis. While supporting the central role that Arbib attributes to gestural/visual communication in understanding language and its evolution, I point out some kinks in the spiral that potentially disrupt its smooth expansion. One is the fact that each modality relies on an entirely different motor system. Another is the type of relation that holds between the articulators and grammatical structure, which is radically different in each system as well. A third kink disrupts the proposed continuity between holistic pantomime (gestural holophrases) and signs. Given such differences, instead of a scenario in which speech grew out of sign, it seems more likely that the two modalities complemented each other symbiotically throughout evolution as they do today. If so, then the modern ability to spontaneously create sign languages reveals the extraordinary richness and plasticity of human cognition, and not an evolutionary stepping stone to speech.

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Section: Words Firstmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vive la différence: Sign language and spoken language in language evolution

Sandler

2013

Lang. cogn.

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“…In a simple example, the phonemes /k/, /æ/ and /t/ can be rearranged in different ways to create the words cat [kæt], act [ækt] or tack [tæk] [ 1 ]. Alternatively, the phoneme /k/ from the word cat can be eliminated to create the word at [æt], with the first position (i.e., presence or absence of the phoneme /k/) representing a phonemic contrast that generates the differentiation in meaning [ 3 ]. In all four arrangements, the meaningless phonemes maintain their acoustic identity across words, and this, paired with the arbitrary relationship between phoneme structure and word meaning, results in words with shared phonemes having distinct semantic content [ 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Evidence for Phonemic Contrasts in a Nonhuman Vocal System

et al. 2015

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The ability to generate new meaning by rearranging combinations of meaningless sounds is a fundamental component of language. Although animal vocalizations often comprise combinations of meaningless acoustic elements, evidence that rearranging such combinations generates functionally distinct meaning is lacking. Here, we provide evidence for this basic ability in calls of the chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps), a highly cooperative bird of the Australian arid zone. Using acoustic analyses, natural observations, and a series of controlled playback experiments, we demonstrate that this species uses the same acoustic elements (A and B) in different arrangements (AB or BAB) to create two functionally distinct vocalizations. Specifically, the addition or omission of a contextually meaningless acoustic element at a single position generates a phoneme-like contrast that is sufficient to distinguish the meaning between the two calls. Our results indicate that the capacity to rearrange meaningless sounds in order to create new signals occurs outside of humans. We suggest that phonemic contrasts represent a rudimentary form of phoneme structure and a potential early step towards the generative phonemic system of human language.

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“…the smallest meaning-differentiating elements of a language that do not themselves have meaning) can be combined into morphemes (i.e. the smallest meaningful elements) and words; and (ii) syntax, in which these morphemes and words can be combined into larger structures [23]. Critically, duality of patterning is the property that allows human languages to create a large lexicon from a few distinct signals [21,[24][25][26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Language evolution: syntax before phonology?

et al. 2014

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Phonology and syntax represent two layers of sound combination central to language's expressive power. Comparative animal studies represent one approach to understand the origins of these combinatorial layers. Traditionally, phonology, where meaningless sounds form words, has been considered a simpler combination than syntax, and thus should be more common in animals. A linguistically informed review of animal call sequences demonstrates that phonology in animal vocal systems is rare, whereas syntax is more widespread. In the light of this and the absence of phonology in some languages, we hypothesize that syntax, present in all languages, evolved before phonology.

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New perspectives on duality of patterning: Introduction to the special issue

Cited by 40 publications

References 20 publications

Vive la différence: Sign language and spoken language in language evolution

Vive la différence: Sign language and spoken language in language evolution

Experimental Evidence for Phonemic Contrasts in a Nonhuman Vocal System

Language evolution: syntax before phonology?

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