20 Sep
2016
20 Sep
'16
9:04 a.m.
Kind reminder:
Dear All,
The CEU Department of Cognitive Science cordially invites you to its talk
as part of the Departmental Colloquium series
by
Daniel Everett, Bentley University
Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 - 17:00-18:30
Host: Gergely CSibra
Homo erectus and the semiotic progression
In this talk I argue that language is primarily a tool for communication, rather than for
thought expression. Further, I make the case that language has its roots in intentional
iconicity of Australopithecines and probably had reached the level of a G1 grammar (linear
ordering of symbols + gestures & pitch modulation, or triality of patterning) more
than one million years ago. Other forms of language, e.g. hierarchical, recursive
grammars, are later embellishments that are functionally useful (Simon 1962) yet are
neither necessary nor sufficient to have human language. This talk considers the evolution
of culture among early hominins and how gap between indexes and icons to symbols might
have been bridged.I argue that Homo erectus is the inventor of language via symbols and
discuss how symbols could have led to what I refer to as triality of patterning, the
hallmark of all human languages, found in no other species we are aware of currently. The
central claim is that the "Semiotic Progression" (indexes -> icons ->
symbols -> triality) predicted implicitly by C.S. Peirce offers the best model the
appearance of language in the genus Homo.
Location: Department of Cognitive Science, CEU, Oktober 6 street 7, room 101.
See more at:
https://cognitivescience.ceu.edu/events/2016-09-21/departmental-colloquium-…
We are looking forward to see you there!
Cognitive Science Events at CEU: http://cognitivescience.ceu.edu/events
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