THE EVOLUTION OF THE LANGUAGE FROM THE CHOMNSKYAN PERSPECTIVE
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Universidad Industrial de Santander
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RESUMENDesde que el mecanismo de selección natural fuera formulado por Darwin, muchos autores han asumido que ese mecanismo, basado en dos ingredientes básicos (gradualismo y adaptacionismo), puede explicar de manera global la evolución del lenguaje. Este artículo pretende discutir críticamente esa asunción desde los presupuestos de la Gramática Generativa chomskyana. En concreto, el trabajo sostiene que, para explorar su evolución, el lenguaje, lejos de ser tomado como una entidad homogénea y monolítica, debe contemplarse como una suma de muy diferentes capacidades, algunas de ellas muy antiguas y otras mucho más recientes.Desde esta perspectiva, sin duda algunos componentes importantes del lenguaje pueden recibir una explicación basada en la selección natural. Sin embargo, otros componentes, como la sintaxis, vínculo productivo de unión entre sonidos y significados, no puede recibir una explicación gradual, ni a partir de los animales ni tampoco a través del linaje homínido. Por ello, la sintaxis es una capacidad evolucionada muy recientemente, y que parece haber surgido de manera abrupta en el seno de nuestra especie (Homo sapiens).Palabras clave: Darwin, evolución, lenguaje, selección natural, sintaxis.
ABSTRACTSince Darwin’s formulation of the mechanism of natural selection, many scholars have contended that such a mechanism, based on two basic ingredients (i.e. gradualism and adaptationism), is able to explain language evolution as a whole. This paper aims at critically discussing the aforementioned assumption from the view of chomskyan Generative Grammar. More specifically, the article argues that for language evolution to be explored, language should not be regarded as a homogeneous and monolithic entity, but as a sum of very different capacities, some of them being very ancient and others much more recent.From this view, some important components of language can reasonably be approached through natural selection. However, the point is made that other components, and especially syntax, which productively bridges sounds and meanings, cannot receive a gradual explanation: no hints can be found of syntax in animals and the same applies to the hominid lineage. Therefore, syntax is a very recently evolved capacity, which seems to have abruptly arisen within our own species (Homo sapiens).Key words: Darwin, evolution, language, natural selection, syntax.
ABSTRACTSince Darwin’s formulation of the mechanism of natural selection, many scholars have contended that such a mechanism, based on two basic ingredients (i.e. gradualism and adaptationism), is able to explain language evolution as a whole. This paper aims at critically discussing the aforementioned assumption from the view of chomskyan Generative Grammar. More specifically, the article argues that for language evolution to be explored, language should not be regarded as a homogeneous and monolithic entity, but as a sum of very different capacities, some of them being very ancient and others much more recent.From this view, some important components of language can reasonably be approached through natural selection. However, the point is made that other components, and especially syntax, which productively bridges sounds and meanings, cannot receive a gradual explanation: no hints can be found of syntax in animals and the same applies to the hominid lineage. Therefore, syntax is a very recently evolved capacity, which seems to have abruptly arisen within our own species (Homo sapiens).Key words: Darwin, evolution, language, natural selection, syntax.