A Proposed Neurological Interpretation of Language Evolution
Author
Source
Issue
Vol. 2015, Issue 2015 (31 Dec. 2015), pp.1-16, 16 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2015-06-01
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
16
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Since the very beginning of the aphasia history it has been well established that there are two major aphasic syndromes (Wernicke’s-type and Broca’s-type aphasia); each one of them is related to the disturbance at a specific linguistic level (lexical/semantic and grammatical) and associated with a particular brain damage localization (temporal and frontal-subcortical).
It is proposed that three stages in language evolution could be distinguished: (a) primitive communication systems similar to those observed in other animals, including nonhuman primates; (b) initial communication systems using sound combinations (lexicon) but without relationships among the elements (grammar); and (c) advanced communication systems including word-combinations (grammar).
It is proposed that grammar probably originated from the internal representation of actions, resulting in the creation of verbs; this is an ability that depends on the so-called Broca’s area and related brain networks.
It is suggested that grammar is the basic ability for the development of so-called metacognitive executive functions.
It is concluded that while the lexical/semantic language system (vocabulary) probably appeared during human evolution long before the contemporary man (Homo sapiens sapiens), the grammatical language historically represents a recent acquisition and is correlated with the development of complex cognition (metacognitive executive functions).
American Psychological Association (APA)
Ardila, Alfredo. 2015. A Proposed Neurological Interpretation of Language Evolution. Behavioural Neurology،Vol. 2015, no. 2015, pp.1-16.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1057583
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Ardila, Alfredo. A Proposed Neurological Interpretation of Language Evolution. Behavioural Neurology No. 2015 (2015), pp.1-16.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1057583
American Medical Association (AMA)
Ardila, Alfredo. A Proposed Neurological Interpretation of Language Evolution. Behavioural Neurology. 2015. Vol. 2015, no. 2015, pp.1-16.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1057583
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1057583