Review of F. d'Errico & L. Backwell (eds.). From Tools to Symbols. From Early Hominids to Modern Humans

2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-154
Author(s):  
Maxine Kleindienst
Keyword(s):  
Modern Humans ◽  
Early Hominids

The Semi-Aquatic Theory

2013 ◽  
pp. 16-31
Author(s):  
George S. Campbell ◽  
David F.J. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Real World ◽  
Aquatic Environment ◽  
Social Ecology ◽  
Possible Worlds ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Early Hominids ◽  
Evolutionary Phase

This article presents the semi-aquatic theory motivated to provide an explanation for why or how did language of the modern humans develop? Key propositions of this theory are early hominids went through a semi-aquatic evolutionary phase and that this semi-aquatic environment exposed the early hominids to frequent visual reflections of their own image, thus transforming a “potential sense of self” to an “active sense of self”, which supported the language development of early hominids. In the epilog of this article, the semi-aquatic theory is being framed and assessed in context of a broader discussion that receives analytical input from “Conceptualized Evolution” and social ecology. Conceptualized Evolution distinguishes between “possible worlds of evolution” and “real worlds of evolution”. However, Conceptualized Evolution stresses that based on “theoretical” (theoretically designed) examples of evolution, even if they never existed empirically, much could be learned for an understanding of our real world. The semi-aquatic theory qualifies at least as a conceptually possible scenario of evolution.

scholarly journals Thyroid Hormone Signalling in Human Evolution and Disease: A Novel Hypothesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Polyxeni Mantzouratou ◽  
Angelo Michele Lavecchia ◽  
Christodoulos Xinaris
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Human Evolution ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Early Hominids ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Target ◽  
History Of ◽  
Pleiotropic Actions ◽  
Hormone Signalling

Thyroid hormone (TH) signalling is a universally conserved pathway with pleiotropic actions that is able to control the development, metabolism, and homeostasis of organisms. Using evidence from paleoecology/palaeoanthropology and data from the physiology of modern humans, we try to assess the natural history of TH signalling and its role in human evolution. Our net thesis is that TH signalling has likely played a critical role in human evolution by facilitating the adaptive responses of early hominids to unprecedently challenging and continuously changing environments. These ancient roles have been conserved in modern humans, in whom TH signalling still responds to and regulates adaptations to present-day environmental and pathophysiological stresses, thus making it a promising therapeutic target.

The Semi-Aquatic Theory

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
George S. Campbell ◽  
David F.J. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Real World ◽  
Aquatic Environment ◽  
Social Ecology ◽  
Possible Worlds ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Early Hominids ◽  
Evolutionary Phase

This article presents the semi-aquatic theory motivated to provide an explanation for why or how did language of the modern humans develop? Key propositions of this theory are early hominids went through a semi-aquatic evolutionary phase and that this semi-aquatic environment exposed the early hominids to frequent visual reflections of their own image, thus transforming a “potential sense of self” to an “active sense of self”, which supported the language development of early hominids. In the epilog of this article, the semi-aquatic theory is being framed and assessed in context of a broader discussion that receives analytical input from “Conceptualized Evolution” and social ecology. Conceptualized Evolution distinguishes between “possible worlds of evolution” and “real worlds of evolution”. However, Conceptualized Evolution stresses that based on “theoretical” (theoretically designed) examples of evolution, even if they never existed empirically, much could be learned for an understanding of our real world. The semi-aquatic theory qualifies at least as a conceptually possible scenario of evolution.

Clash of signs: Putting bilingualism back into language evolution

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Samuel
Keyword(s):  
Language Evolution ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Bilingual Children ◽  
Human Language ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Typically Developing Children ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
The Real ◽  
Multiple Languages

Research and thinking into the cognitive aspects of language evolution has usually attempted to account for how the capacity for learning even one modern human language developed. Bilingualism has perhaps been thought of as something to think about only once the ‘real’ puzzle of monolingualism is solved, but this would assume in turn (and without evidence) that bilingualism evolved after monolingualism. All typically-developing children (and adults) are capable of learning multiple languages, and the majority of modern humans are at least bilingual. In this paper I ask whether by skipping bilingualism out of language evolution we have missed a trick. I propose that exposure to synonymous signs, such as food and alarm calls, are a necessary precondition for the abstracting away of sound from referent. In support of this possibility is evidence that modern day bilingual children are better at breaking this ‘word magic’ spell. More generally, language evolution should be viewed through the lens of bilingualism, as this is the end state we are attempting to explain.

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