Evoluce a evoluční teorie pro lékaře
XI. Vývoj jazyka

Czech version

Authors: F. Koukolík
Authors‘ workplace: Primář: MUDr. František Koukolík, . DrSc. ; Národní referenční laboratoř prionových chorob ; Fakultní Thomayerova nemocnice s poliklinikou, Praha ; Oddělení patologie a molekulární medicíny
Published in: Prakt. Lék. 2010; 90(11): 632-635
Category: Editorial

Overview

The evolution of human language is a matter of controversy. Hauser-Fitch-Chomsky’s hypothesis distinguishes between faculty of language in the broad sense, which includes sensory-motor system and conceptual-intentional system, and faculty of language in the narrow sense (FLN), which is a computational system for recursion. FLN should be the only unique human component of the faculty of language. This hypothesis is subject to much criticism: it ignores non-recursive aspects of grammar, is inconsistent with the anatomy and neural control of the human vocal tract e.g.

Arbib-Rizzolati’s hypothesis starts with the “mirror system” and offers hypotheses on evolutionary changes within and outside the mirror system which may have equipped our ancestors with a language-ready brain.

Christiansen – Chater’s hypothesis states that a language is shaped by the brain, biologically determined universal grammar is not evolutionary viable: the language has been shared to fit the brain, rather than vice versa.

Key words:
language evolution, Hauser-Fitch Chomsky’s hypothesis, Rizzolati-Arbib’s hypothesis, Christiansen-Chater’s hypothesis.

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