TY - CONF

T1 - Cognitive Linguistics Support for the Evolution of Language from Animal Cognition

AU - Amphaeris, Jenny

AU - Shannon, Graeme

AU - Tenbrink, Thora

PY - 2021/7

Y1 - 2021/7

N2 - This paper explores previous arguments that language evolved not from animal communication, as naturally assumed by most scholars, but instead out of animal cognition. It is proposed here that additional support for this argument comes from Cognitive Linguistics, an interdisciplinary branch of linguistics. Cognitive Linguistics mediates communication and cognition but, as with Cognitive Discourse Analysis, studies language use in terms of what it demonstrates about underlying cognitive processes and concepts. The paper demonstrates key examples of animal cognition’s links to language, with Cognitive Linguistics support, as well as the approach’s application to animal cognition in terms of domain-general symbolism, beyond verbal language. However, because communication remains a major function of language, the communicative aspect ought to be maintained in the explanation of language evolution.

AB - This paper explores previous arguments that language evolved not from animal communication, as naturally assumed by most scholars, but instead out of animal cognition. It is proposed here that additional support for this argument comes from Cognitive Linguistics, an interdisciplinary branch of linguistics. Cognitive Linguistics mediates communication and cognition but, as with Cognitive Discourse Analysis, studies language use in terms of what it demonstrates about underlying cognitive processes and concepts. The paper demonstrates key examples of animal cognition’s links to language, with Cognitive Linguistics support, as well as the approach’s application to animal cognition in terms of domain-general symbolism, beyond verbal language. However, because communication remains a major function of language, the communicative aspect ought to be maintained in the explanation of language evolution.

KW - Animal Cognition

KW - Animal Communication

KW - Cognitive Linguistics

KW - Language Evolution

KW - Symbols

KW - LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS

M3 - Paper

T2 - CogSci2021

Y2 - 26 July 2021 through 29 July 2021

ER -