The evolution of syntactic communication

被引:197
作者
Nowak, MA
Plotkin, JB
Jansen, VAA
机构
[1] Inst Adv Study, Princeton, NJ 08540 USA
[2] Univ London Royal Holloway & Bedford New Coll, Sch Biol Sci, Egham TW20 0EX, Surrey, England
关键词
D O I
10.1038/35006635
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Animal communication is typically non-syntactic, which means that signals refer to whole situations(1-7). Human language is syntactic, and signals consist of discrete components that have their own meaning(8). Syntax is a prerequisite for taking advantage of combinatorics, that is, "making infinite use of finite means"(9-11) The vast expressive power of human language would be impossible without syntax, and the transition from non-syntactic to syntactic communication was an essential step in the evolution of human language(12-16). We aim to understand the evolutionary dynamics of this transition and to analyse how natural selection can guide it. Here we present a model for the population dynamics of language evolution, define the basic reproductive ratio of words and calculate the maximum size of a lexicon. Syntax allows larger repertoires and the possibility to formulate messages that have not been learned beforehand. Nevertheless, according to our model natural selection can only favour the emergence of syntax if the number of required signals exceeds a threshold value. This result might explain why only humans evolved syntactic communication and hence complex language.
引用
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页码:495 / 498
页数:4
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