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1 results

  • 10 - The Evolution of Mind and Language: Basic Issues

  • from Part V - The Evolution of Mind and Language
  • Harry van der Hulst, University of Connecticut
  • Book:
    Genes, Brains, Evolution and Language
    Published online:
    13 November 2025
    Print publication:
    13 November 2025, pp 369-406

  • Summary

    The question “where does language come from?” has fascinated people for as long as we know. While all sorts of answers have been proposed, ranging from an appeal to divine intervention to “by chance,” there is currently a trend to approach this difficult question using circumstantial evidence from many different disciplines. While no agreement is in sight, advances have been made, in part because scientists are now able to ask better, more specific questions due to the fact that linguists have made a lot of progress in their detailed understanding of language structure and the way in which languages can change over time.