Language Evolution and Syntactic Theory

Discusses the relationship between Chomskyan syntactic theory and the evolution of language.

Anna R. Kinsella (Author)

9780521895309, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 July 2009

236 pages, 5 tables
23.4 x 15.7 x 1.7 cm, 0.52 kg

Evolution has not typically been recognised by linguists as a constraining factor when developing linguistic theories. This book demonstrates that our theories of language must reflect the fact that language has evolved. It critiques a currently dominant framework in the field of linguistics - the Minimalist Program - by showing how it fails to take evolution into account. It approaches the question of the evolution of human language in a novel way by applying findings from the field of evolutionary biology to language. Key properties associated with typically evolving systems are identified in language, and the shortcomings of the Minimalist Program in its outright rejection of these features are exposed. The book will be of interest to individual researchers and advanced students in linguistics, psychology, biology, anthropology and cognitive science.

1. Constraining our theory of language
2. Language as a perfect system
3. Language as an evolvable system
4. Language as a recursive system
5. Language as a minimal system
6. Towards an evolvable theory of syntax.

Subject Areas: Evolution [PSAJ], Grammar, syntax & morphology [CFK], Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF]