Purpose

The purpose of the present section of the website is to provide a summary of what seems, in the first part of the 21st century, reasonably certain concerning the origin and evolution of the human language. This is done from a general linguistic perspective; but relevant contributions from neighboring disciplines such as neurolinguistics, biolinguistics and historical linguistics are incorporated. The facts, descriptive concepts and hypotheses are explained for non-specialists in linguistics.

Structure

Sensible talk about the evolution of language presupposes some basic concepts of language and linguistics. Therefore the present treatment makes partially the impression of a crash course in linguistics. Its structure is roughly as follows:

1. The basic properties of human language which distinguish it from other communication systems are defined.
2. The properties of the human brain which are relevant to language activity are reviewed.
3. The major mechanisms for the formation of a language system are explained.
4. The evolution of human language on the basis of animal communication is traced.
5. The development of the principal domains of the language system is sketched.
6. The entire development is linked up with the anthropological evolution.