|
Language evolution: syntax before phonology?| old_uid | 14241 |
|---|
| title | Language evolution: syntax before phonology? |
|---|
| start_date | 2014/06/25 |
|---|
| schedule | 11h30-13h |
|---|
| online | no |
|---|
| details | week's LANGUAGE Seminar |
|---|
| summary | 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 light of this and the absence of phonology in some languages, we hypothesize that syntax, present in all languages, evolved before phonology. |
|---|
| responsibles | Spector, Schlenker, Homer |
|---|
| |
|