The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge about the modern theories of language origins. Starting from the comparison between human language and animal communication, two theoretical proposals will be discussed: on the one hand, the hypothesis according to which human language derives from the communication systems of non-human animals (of the great apes, specifically); on the other, the hypothesis according to which animal communication is not a precursor of human faculty of language.
teacher profile teaching materials
Animal communication and human language: the Cartesian tradition.
Animal communication and human language: the Darwinian tradition.
Can non-human animals learn human language? The case of enculturated apes.
Hominid communication: vocal hypothesis vs gestural hypothesis.
The model of explosion.
Human communication: reading the speaker's intentions.
- Adornetti I., 2016, Il linguaggio: origine ed evoluzione. Carocci, Roma.
Programme
Animal communication and human language: the Cartesian tradition.
Animal communication and human language: the Darwinian tradition.
Can non-human animals learn human language? The case of enculturated apes.
Hominid communication: vocal hypothesis vs gestural hypothesis.
The model of explosion.
Human communication: reading the speaker's intentions.
Core Documentation
- Ferretti F., Adornetti I., 2012, Dalla comunicazione al linguaggio. Scimmie, ominidi e umani in una prospettiva darwiniana, Mondadori Università, Milano.- Adornetti I., 2016, Il linguaggio: origine ed evoluzione. Carocci, Roma.
Type of delivery of the course
The final decision on the course modality will be subject to the pandemic trendType of evaluation
multiple choice written test teacher profile teaching materials
Animal communication and human language: the Cartesian tradition.
Animal communication and human language: the Darwinian tradition.
Can non-human animals learn human language? The case of enculturated apes.
Hominid communication: vocal hypothesis vs gestural hypothesis.
The model of explosion.
Human communication: reading the speaker's intentions.
- Adornetti I., 2016, Il linguaggio: origine ed evoluzione. Carocci, Roma.
Programme
Animal communication and human language: the Cartesian tradition.
Animal communication and human language: the Darwinian tradition.
Can non-human animals learn human language? The case of enculturated apes.
Hominid communication: vocal hypothesis vs gestural hypothesis.
The model of explosion.
Human communication: reading the speaker's intentions.
Core Documentation
- Ferretti F., Adornetti I., 2012, Dalla comunicazione al linguaggio. Scimmie, ominidi e umani in una prospettiva darwiniana, Mondadori Università, Milano.- Adornetti I., 2016, Il linguaggio: origine ed evoluzione. Carocci, Roma.
Type of delivery of the course
The final decision on the course modality will be subject to the pandemic trendType of evaluation
In the event of an extension of the health emergency from COVID-19, all the provisions governing the methods of carrying out teaching activities and student evaluation will be implemented. In particular, the following methods will be applied: written exams.