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.
At the end of the course the student:
- will acquire the basic concepts of the theoretical models of language proposed in the field of evolutionary studies.
- Will be able to distinguish the theses advanced by the authors from the arguments used to support such theses, and will be able to provide a correct reconstruction of these arguments
At the end of the course the student:
- will acquire the basic concepts of the theoretical models of language proposed in the field of evolutionary studies.
- Will be able to distinguish the theses advanced by the authors from the arguments used to support such theses, and will be able to provide a correct reconstruction of these arguments
Canali
teacher profile teaching materials
Overall, the course will be organized into the following contents:
- Key steps in human evolution
- Hominid communication: vocal vs. gestural hypothesis on language origins
- Discontinuity models of language origins
- A model of human communication centered on intentions
- Cognition and communication in non-human primates
- Communication and conversation
Textbooks for both attending and non-attending students:
- 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.
- Adornetti I. (2016). Il linguaggio: origine ed evoluzione. Carocci, Roma.
Programme
The course proposes a deep reflection on the main models of language origins and evolution. The specific focus of such reflection is on the debate between continuity and discontinuity models, in which the comparative analysis of animal communication and human language plays a central role. Within the course, the reference to comparative studies includes the investigation of both the cognitive capacities and the expressive means required to realize communication.Overall, the course will be organized into the following contents:
- Key steps in human evolution
- Hominid communication: vocal vs. gestural hypothesis on language origins
- Discontinuity models of language origins
- A model of human communication centered on intentions
- Cognition and communication in non-human primates
- Communication and conversation
Textbooks for both attending and non-attending students:
- 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.
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.
Reference Bibliography
- 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.Attendance
Attendance at lessons is not mandatory.Type of evaluation
The exam will be in the written modality, asking students to answer both open and multiple choice questions. teacher profile teaching materials
The case of the encultured apes
Human evolution.
Hominid communication: vocal vs gestural hypothesis.
The blast model.
Human communication: reading the speaker's intentions.
Theory of mind in nonhuman primates.
Communication and conversation.
- Adornetti I., 2016, Il linguaggio: origine ed evoluzione. Carocci, Roma. (da studiare tutto)
Programme
Cartesian perspective vs. Darwinian perspectiveThe case of the encultured apes
Human evolution.
Hominid communication: vocal vs gestural hypothesis.
The blast model.
Human communication: reading the speaker's intentions.
Theory of mind in nonhuman primates.
Communication and conversation.
Core Documentation
- Ferretti F., Adornetti I., 2012, Dalla comunicazione al linguaggio. Scimmie, ominidi e umani in una prospettiva darwiniana, Mondadori Università, Milano. (da studiare tutto)- Adornetti I., 2016, Il linguaggio: origine ed evoluzione. Carocci, Roma. (da studiare tutto)
Reference Bibliography
see booksAttendance
attendance is not mandatory, but strongly recommendedType of evaluation
Multiple-choice and open-ended written test. Specifically: - 20 multiple-choice questions for a maximum score of 20 - 1 open-ended question for a maximum score of 11 - Honors are awarded to those who score a maximum of 31 (20+11)