Place: TBA
Time:TBA
The evolution of language is a controversial topic. Because there are no ``fossils'' prior to the development of writing systems, theories about the origin and evolution of language have tended to be quite speculative. For this reason the topic was banned from discussion by the Societe de Linguistique de Paris in 1866. More than 100 years thereafter, the 1990's have seen a resurgence of interest in the evolution of language, fueled by new insights originating from the cognitive neurosciences, computational models of language processing, and computational modeling of evolutionary processes.
This graduate seminar will take stock of these developments through an investigation of recent theories of language origin and evolution. Topics of discussion include: Functional explanations in linguistics and the origin of language, natural language and natural selection, brain evolution and neurolinguistic preconditions, pidgins and creoles, and the evolution of a critical period for language acquisition.
Dr. Christiansen is currently working on a book on the nature, evolution and acquisition of language in collaboration with Dr. Michael Arbib (a neuroscientist from USC) and Dr. Giacomo Rizzolatti (a neurophysiologist from the University of Parma, Italy).
This seminar was previously taught in the Fall of 1997 as Psychology
676/Linguistics 676 at the University of Southern California.
Click here to see the course syllabus for
the previous installment of this seminar. Please note that the syllabus
is likely to change.
Contact Information for Dr. Christiansen
Currently at:Last modified: July 10, 1998.
Program in Neural, Informational and Behavioral Sciences
University of Southern California
Office: Hedco Neurosciences Bldg. B11
Phone: (213) 740-6299
Fax: (213) 740-5687
Email: morten@gizmo.usc.edu
From January 1, 1999:
Department of Psychology
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
Please email suggestions/errors to mhc27@cornell.edu |