The course addresses the issue of the biological foundations of human language. Starting from the study of the relationship between language and brain, two specific theoretical proposals will be compared: the theoretical perspectives according to which language can not be analyzed in reference to the principles of natural selection; the models that interpret language in terms of a biological adaptation. The aim of the course is to present a hypothesis of convergence between these two proposals based on the notion of co-evolution.
teacher profile teaching materials
- Ferretti F., 2015, La facoltà di linguaggio. Determinati biologiche e variabilità culturale, Carocci. Roma
Programme
The lectures treat with the theme of the biological and evolutionary foundations of language. Starting from the study of the relationsheep between language and brain, two theoretical models will be compared: the theories according to which language cannot be explained in terms of natural selection and the models that explain the faculty of language as a biological adaptation.Core Documentation
- Chomsky N., 1998, Linguaggio e problemi della conoscenza, Il Mulino, Bologna.- Ferretti F., 2015, La facoltà di linguaggio. Determinati biologiche e variabilità culturale, Carocci. Roma
Type of evaluation
oral exam