Arbib Michael A
Computer Science, Neuroscience and the USC Brain Project, University of Southern California, HNB 03, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA.
J Commun Disord. 2009 Jul-Aug;42(4):263-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2009.03.009. Epub 2009 Apr 17.
We first review the mirror-system hypothesis on the evolution of the language-ready brain, stressing the important role of imitation and protosign in providing the scaffolding for protospeech. We then assess the role of social interaction and non-specific knowledge of language in the emergence of new sign languages in deaf communities (focusing on Nicaraguan Sign Language).
(1) Readers will understand the difference between mirror systems in humans and monkeys, and see how the evolution of imitation and protosign required the biological evolution of mirror systems with linkages to diverse regions beyond the mirror system. (2) Readers will see how social structure complements brain mechanisms in yielding language through cultural evolution supported by having language-ready brains, rather than through possession of an innate Universal Grammar. (3) Readers will understand that ontogeny does not recapitulate phylogeny, but will appreciate what mechanisms currently operative in modern children acquiring language may also have served early humans during the cumulative invention of the idea of language.
我们首先回顾关于具备语言能力大脑进化的镜像系统假说，强调模仿和原始手势在为原始语言提供支撑方面的重要作用。然后，我们评估社会互动和语言的非特定知识在聋人社区新手语出现过程中的作用（重点关注尼加拉瓜手语）。
（1）读者将理解人类和猴子镜像系统之间的差异，并明白模仿和原始手势的进化如何需要与镜像系统之外的不同区域相联系的镜像系统的生物进化。（2）读者将明白社会结构如何通过具备语言能力的大脑所支持的文化进化，而非通过拥有先天的普遍语法，来补充大脑机制以产生语言。（3）读者将理解个体发育并不重演系统发育，但会认识到现代儿童习得语言时当前起作用的机制在语言概念的累积发明过程中可能也为早期人类发挥了作用。
