USEM 40a: Origins of Language
Brandeis University Fall 2002
Tue & Fri 12:10-1:30pm
Volen 105
Staff
Professor: James
Pustejovsky
258 Volen Center, jamesp@cs.brandeis.edu,
(781) 736 2709
Office hours: Tue 11:00-12:00pm, Thu 1:00-3:00pm, Fri 11:-12:00pm
Course Description
Where does language come from? In this seminar, we will look at the
origin and evolution of linguistic abilities in humans. We will
consider evidence from psychology, linguistic theory, the cognitive
neurosciences, comparative psychology, and computational modeling of
evolutionary processes. Topics for discussion include: What does the
fossil record tell us about language evolution? What can we learn from
comparative perspectives on neurobiology and behavior? Can apes really
learn language? Did language come about through natural selection?
What were the potential preadaptations for language? What is the
relationship between phylogeny and ontogeny?
We will review Darwin's theory of evolution, the fossil and
archaeological record, theories for the evolution of modern human
beings, how brains work and may have evolved, animal and chimpanzee
communication, and what aspects of human behavior might be determined
by our genes.
Reading Materials
-
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
by Charles Darwin, Paul Ekman (Editor) (Hardcover - April 1998)
-
From Hand to Mouth : The Origins of Language
by Michael C. Corballis
-
Lingua ex Machina
by Derek Bickerton, William H. Calvin
- Genes, People, and Languages
by L.L. Cavalli-Sforza
- Origins of the Modern Mind : Three Stages in the Evolution of
Culture and Cognition
by Merlin Donald
Class Slides
Grading
- Class Participation and the discussion of reading material
- Summaries of Reading Material
- Three written reports on topics from Readings and Related Material
Syllabus
- Sept. 3-6: What are Words? Compositionality: Putting all the words
together.
Calvin and Bickerton
- Sept 9-13: Origins of English. Dr. Patrick Hanks: All reading
materials in hand-out.
- Sept 20: Language and the Brain:
Calvin and Bickerton
- Sept. 24-27: Protolanguage and the Brain, Putting Chomsky together with Chomsky: Calvin and Bickerton
- Oct 1-4: Language and Tools: Corballis
- Oct 8-11: Origins of Indo-European. Patrick Hanks
- Oct 15-18: Deep Origins of Language: Corballis
- Oct 22-25: Deep Origins of Language, Part 2: Corballis
- Oct. 29. Nov. 1: Genetic Relations of Languages: Cavalli-Sforza
- Nov. 5-8: Genetic Relations of Languages, Part 2: Cavalli-Sforza
- Nov. 12-15: Cognitive Origins: Donald, Expressions of Emotions,
Darwin.
- Nov. 19-22: Cognitive Origins, Part 3: Donald
- Nov. 26: Cognitive Origins, Part 4: Donald
- Dec. 3-6: Hauser, Pinker, Language Genes: Various Readings
Related Links
Glossaries of Linguistics terms
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