Archaeology of Language Origins

Paper Summary:

The paper looks to answer the following questions: Can apes or any other non-humans use symbols or language? How does our understanding of the relationship between mind and brain help us to investigate which fossil hominins first used language? What do we know of the brains of fossil hominins and the constraints on brain size increase? What is language "as we know it?"

From the Paper:

"A symbol is considered to be something that "stands for something else" (Davidson & Noble 1993). Davidson and Noble also suggest a second criterion, that is, symbols as accepted by social custom or convention. A ring worn on a finger can symbolize marriage, (although the social convention varies within groups of people) and is an example containing both criteria. The second criterion cited above stems from Wittgenstien's "private language argument"."

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