CORRECTION:
The talk has been cancelled!
Sorry for the confusion,
Kind regards,
Reka
From: talks-bounces@cogsci.ceu.edu [mailto:talks-bounces@cogsci.ceu.edu]
On Behalf Of Gyorgyne Finta
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2016 9:05 AM
To: talks@cogsci.ceu.edu (talks@cogsci.ceu.edu) <talks@cogsci.ceu.edu>
Subject: [CEU Cogsci Talks] REMINDER: CogSci CEU Departmental Colloquium: September 21, Wednesday, Dan Everett: Homo erectus and the semiotic progression
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:
We are looking forward to see you there!
Cognitive Science Events at CEU:
http://cognitivescience.ceu.edu/events