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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

  1. Sept. 3-6: What are Words? Compositionality: Putting all the words together. Calvin and Bickerton
  2. Sept 9-13: Origins of English. Dr. Patrick Hanks: All reading materials in hand-out.
  3. Sept 20: Language and the Brain: Calvin and Bickerton
  4. Sept. 24-27: Protolanguage and the Brain, Putting Chomsky together with Chomsky: Calvin and Bickerton
  5. Oct 1-4: Language and Tools: Corballis
  6. Oct 8-11: Origins of Indo-European. Patrick Hanks
  7. Oct 15-18: Deep Origins of Language: Corballis
  8. Oct 22-25: Deep Origins of Language, Part 2: Corballis
  9. Oct. 29. Nov. 1: Genetic Relations of Languages: Cavalli-Sforza
  10. Nov. 5-8: Genetic Relations of Languages, Part 2: Cavalli-Sforza
  11. Nov. 12-15: Cognitive Origins: Donald, Expressions of Emotions, Darwin.
  12. Nov. 19-22: Cognitive Origins, Part 3: Donald
  13. Nov. 26: Cognitive Origins, Part 4: Donald
  14. Dec. 3-6: Hauser, Pinker, Language Genes: Various Readings

 

Related Links

Glossaries of Linguistics terms



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James Pustejovsky