The fossils of language: What are they? Who has them? How did they evolve?

The Archaeological Record Speaks: Bridging Anthropology and Linguistics

“…For instance, different substitutions in both DYX1C1 and ROBO1 , two genes associated to dyslexia [ 57 – 59 ], have been positively selected in the human lineage: in the first case, after the separation of the evolutionary lines leading, respectively, to humans and the rest of higher primates [ 57 ] and, in the second case, between 12 and 16 million years ago [ 58 ]. As a complete genetic characterization of the Faculty of Language cannot be made with the exclusion of genes that, when mutated, impair other cognitive capacities besides language, the catalogue of genes of interest is expected to increase in the near future [ 60 , 61 ].…”

“…That case contrasts with that of chinchillas, who perceive but do not produce a variety of the categories that enter the linguistic repertoire in some form [ 106 ]. More to the point of our concerns here, we simply do not know what may have happened in earlier hominid species and whether they could or could not discriminate sounds that they were not able to produce accurately [ 22 , 61 ].…”

From Physical Aggression to Verbal Behavior: Language Evolution and Self-Domestication Feedback Loop

“…In this respect,Wynn and Coolidge (2004) proposed that working memory may have been enhanced in modern humans, compared to Neanderthals, contributing to the capacity for innovation and experimentation. It is also pointed out byBalari et al (2013) that enhanced working memory may have enabled recursive syntax. Finally, Benítez-Burraco and Kempe (2018) linked the enhancement of working memory to the emergence of languages with expanded vocabularies and more complex syntax, which are purportedly optimized for conveying complex meanings and know-hows to people not sharing a common ground or a common cultural knowledge.…”

Some thoughts on biolinguistics

“…Additionally, we must address the form-function problem. This problem entails that we cannot automatically infer modern functions (that is, a modern faculty of language) from human-like, language-related biological structures, like the descended larynx, the mirror neurons or Broca's areas, or even the derived sequence of "language genes" (see Balari et al 2013 for discussion). Even evidence of symbolism can be problematic.…”