Language evolution: syntax before phonology?

被引:74
作者
Collier, Katie [1 ]
Bickel, Balthasar [2 ]
van Schaik, Carel P. [3 ]
Manser, Marta B. [1 ]
Townsend, Simon W. [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Zurich, Inst Evolutionary Biol & Environm Studies, Zurich, Switzerland
[2] Univ Zurich, Dept Comparat Linguist, Zurich, Switzerland
[3] Univ Zurich, Anthropol Inst & Museum, Zurich, Switzerland
关键词
human language; animal communication; evolution; syntax; phonology; comparative approach; A-DEE CALLS; ANIMAL COMMUNICATION; COMBINATIONS; EMERGENCE; DUALITY; SPEECH;
D O I
10.1098/rspb.2014.0263
中图分类号
Q [生物科学];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
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 the light of this and the absence of phonology in some languages, we hypothesize that syntax, present in all languages, evolved before phonology.
引用
收藏
页数:7
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