A Socio-Anthropological Turn in the Studies of Glottogenesis: Communicative Concerns and Language Complexity Levels
DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2022-3/7-19
Keywords:
glottogenesis, the origin of language, anthropogenesis, cognitive evolution, multilevel selection, proto-language, cultural drive, communication, social order, language complexityAbstract
The studies of the language origin have accumulated a substantial volume of ideas and results. Recently, the main interest of these studies has shifted from hominids’ tool technologies, bone remains, and genomes to the reconstruction of their social interactions and communication practices based on indirect evidence. The article sets the future goals for prospective research and outlines the basic ideas:
A sketch of an encompassing conceptual structure with the basic concepts of «social niches», «communicative concerns», «challenges-threats», «challenges-opportunities», «response strategies», «providing structures», «ingredients», «endeavors», «fixation mechanisms», «stages of linguistic complexity», «glotto-aromorphoses»;
Overcoming «the language Rubicon» between the communicative system of animals and the first stage of articulate human speech;
The steps of linguistic complexity from distinguishing syllables in collective signals of (dis)approval through proto-words, reactive and diverting proto-phrases, and a pidgin-like proto-language – to a language with complex syntax and grammar.
