From icons to symbols: Some speculations on the origins of language
Published
Journal Article
This paper is divided into three sections. In the first section we offer a retooling of some traditional concepts, namely icons and symbols, which allows us to describe an evolutionary continuum of communication systems. The second section consists of an argument from theoretical biology. In it we explore the advantages and disadvantages of phenotypic plasticity. We argue that a range of the conditions that selectively favor phenotypic plasticity also favor a nongenetic transmission system that would allow for the inheritance of acquired characters. The first two sections are independent, the third depends on both of them. In it we offer an argument that human natural languages have just the features required of an ideal transmission mechanism under the conditions described in section 2. © 1986 D. Reidel Publishing Company.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Brandon, RN; Hornstein, N
Published Date
- June 1, 1986
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 1 / 2
Start / End Page
- 169 - 189
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1572-8404
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0169-3867
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1007/BF00142900
Citation Source
- Scopus