Linguistics 320
As far as we can tell, only one species has a communicative system of
the complexity of human language, and that is humans. By comparing
full-blown human language with other systems, we can learn something
about how human language arose in prehistory. Recent advances in
primate cognition and social behavior, infant cognition and social
behavior, archeology, genetics, and other fields allow us to adduce various
sorts of evidence, of various degrees of directness, to make
hypotheses about the origin and development of human language. In
doing so, we can also learn more about human language itself and the
nature of the human species.
NOTE: The rest of the course description and associated links to
LING 320 taught by Suzanne Kemmer can be found at
Prof. Suzanne Kemmer
The Origins and Evolution of Human Language
Course Information
Course description