Animal Communication Helps Reveal Roots of Language Thread poster: Vito Smolej
|
|---|
Vito Smolej
Germany
Local time: 08:44
Member (2004)
English to Slovenian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
(Michael Balter, Science May 21st)
Language leaves no traces in the archaeological record, and many researchers have been doubtful about how much animal communication could reveal about the unique features of human communication. That began to change in the 1990s, when linguists, evolutionary biologists, psychologists, primatologists, and other scientists teamed up to test new hypotheses about how language arose. Since 1996, this interdisciplinary crowd has gathered every 2 years at... See more (Michael Balter, Science May 21st)
Language leaves no traces in the archaeological record, and many researchers have been doubtful about how much animal communication could reveal about the unique features of human communication. That began to change in the 1990s, when linguists, evolutionary biologists, psychologists, primatologists, and other scientists teamed up to test new hypotheses about how language arose. Since 1996, this interdisciplinary crowd has gathered every 2 years at Evolang, a meeting devoted to deciphering the evolutionary origins of language. Although some say the early Evolang gatherings suffered from too many hypotheses and too little testing, many think last month's meeting marks a turning point for the field. Participants flocked to hear a barrage of new data from animal and human studies. The new empiricism may help resolve one of the field's liveliest debates: whether the first human language consisted of gestures, similar to today's sign languages, or articulated speech. At the meeting, a new and unlikely seeming animal model for human language got star billing: songbirds. Their ability to learn and imitate their parents' melodious tunes has many parallels with the ability of human children to learn spoken language, researchers say.
see full text: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/328/5981/969
picked by smo ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Well, that´s a thought | May 25, 2010 |
As the songbirds outside my window wake me in the small hours at this time of year.
I love them really, but need my sleep! So I can meditate as I try to doze off again, on the idea that this might be the echo of primeval language... They are soothing and melodious anyway!
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Animal Communication Helps Reveal Roots of Language | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
| | CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
