Origins of Language

Abstract

This chapter reviews and discusses the historical origins of language, departing from the fundamental distinction between lexical evolution and grammatical evolution. Initially, some contemporary neurological research, including neuroimaging studies, is reviewed to support the proposal that there are two basic dimesions in language – lexicon and grammar – following different patterns of evolution. Later, it is emphasized that nouns and verbs have a quite different representation in the brain, and furthermore, both depend on different brain memory systems. In the following section, it is proposed that language evolution follows three stages: (1) the initial communication systems based on gestures and vocalizations, as observed in contemporary non-human primates; (2) the progressive increase in vocalizations resulted in a large vocabulary – lexico/semantic system – but without grammar; (3) the grammatical language represents the final stage in language evolution. The language disturbances associated with brain pathology (aphasias) are later reviewed, emphasizing there are two fundamental forms of aphasia: Wernicke’s sensory aphasia and Broca’s motor aphasia, associated with abnormalities in the lexica/semantic system and in the grammatical system, respectively. Finally, it is proposed that grammatical language is associated with the development of executive functions and complex cognition. Some general conclusions are presented.