| Title |
The origins of language in teaching
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, July 2016
|
| DOI | 10.3758/s13423-016-1077-7 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Kevin N. Laland |
| Abstract |
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. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 7 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1 | 14% |
| Unknown | 6 | 86% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 6 | 86% |
| Scientists | 1 | 14% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 78 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1 | 1% |
| United States | 1 | 1% |
| Unknown | 76 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 18 | 23% |
| Researcher | 13 | 17% |
| Student > Master | 10 | 13% |
| Professor | 7 | 9% |
| Student > Bachelor | 5 | 6% |
| Other | 14 | 18% |
| Unknown | 11 | 14% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 13 | 17% |
| Psychology | 13 | 17% |
| Linguistics | 12 | 15% |
| Social Sciences | 11 | 14% |
| Arts and Humanities | 6 | 8% |
| Other | 10 | 13% |
| Unknown | 13 | 17% |