Laland Kevin N
Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, Scotland, UK.
Psychon Bull Rev. 2017 Feb;24(1):225-231. doi: 10.3758/s13423-016-1077-7.
I introduce seven criteria for determining the validity of competing theories for the original function of language. I go on to present a novel explanation that meets all the criteria: language originally evolved to teach kin. I suggest that the use of symbols subsequently generated evolutionary feedback at two levels, in the form of self-modified selection pressures that favored structures in the mind that functioned to manipulate and use symbols with efficiency, and cultural selection on languages for learnability.
我介绍了七条用于判定关于语言原始功能的相互竞争理论之有效性的标准。接着，我提出了一种符合所有标准的全新解释：语言最初是为了教导亲属而演化的。我认为，符号的使用随后在两个层面产生了进化反馈，一种是以自我修正的选择压力的形式，这种压力有利于大脑中那些能够高效操纵和使用符号的结构；另一种是对语言在可学习性方面的文化选择。
