Why the linguistic behaviour of modern hunter-gatherers is the most relevant evidence for the Language Faculty which informs inquiries into its evolutionary explanation
Svetlana T.davidova
June 2023
 

The present article argues that modern linguistic theorizing has been highly influenced by modern Western thought by assuming that the languages of highly advanced societies, i.e. communication systems tailored to the needs of modern civilization, represent natural language as the hallmark of human species and extrapolated from these the features of the Language Faculty. This biased approach has directed the search for the language faculty in a wrong direction, confusing products of evolution with the fruits of advanced civilization. In an effort to minimize this bias I argue that the linguistic output of the average hunter-gatherer is the most relevant source for understanding the Language faculty and sheds light on its evolution.
Format: [ pdf ]
Reference: lingbuzz/006376
(please use that when you cite this article)
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keywords: language faculty, writing, linguistic theory, language evolution, language evolution, semantics, syntax
previous versions: v3 [January 2023]
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