Evolution, brain, and the nature of language

Berwick, Robert C.; Friederici, Angela D.; Chomsky, Noam; Bolhuis, Johan J.

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2012.12.002

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Evolution, brain, and the nature of language

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Friederici, Angela D.
Department Neuropsychology, MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Berwick, R. C., Friederici, A. D., Chomsky, N., & Bolhuis, J. J. (2013). Evolution, brain, and the nature of language. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(2), 89-98. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2012.12.002.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-000E-7544-7

Abstract

Language serves as a cornerstone for human cognition, yet much about its evolution remains puzzling. Recent research on this question parallels Darwin's attempt to explain both the unity of all species and their diversity. What has emerged from this research is that the unified nature of human language arises from a shared, species-specific computational ability. This ability has identifiable correlates in the brain and has remained fixed since the origin of language approximately 100 thousand years ago. Although songbirds share with humans a vocal imitation learning ability, with a similar underlying neural organization, language is uniquely human.