- Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Ryan Leahy
University of Oxford, Anthropology, Graduate Student
- Interested in Human evolution, the Evolution of Language, Hominin Ecology.
Currently studying MSc in Cognitive & Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Oxford, Linacre College.
Previously studied BA in Anthropology & English Language + Communication, Oxford Brookes.edit
This project analyses a wide range of current literature concerning the origins and evolution of language. A major focus is on constraining the time in which language evolved, covering recent and gradual origins hypotheses. Included are... more
This project analyses a wide range of current literature concerning the origins and evolution
of language. A major focus is on constraining the time in which language evolved, covering
recent and gradual origins hypotheses. Included are models that interpret the foundations
of language as a sudden emergent property, as well as models that propose an accretionary
accrual of a modern suite of linguistic abilities. A ‘gesture-first’ model is presented in line
with the gradual evolution of language, and tool-making is suggested as a reinforcement
framework for language lateralization and even syntactical operations. Finally, the
supportive biological evidence (including the Kebara 2 hyoid bone and FOXP2) is determined
to reinforce the gradual and gestural models rather than emergent models of language
evolution. What we are left with is a model that posits that language cannot have originated
later than 100kya, could have gained prominence between then and 400,000 years ago and
was already subject to a functional cultural-ecological development prior to this.
of language. A major focus is on constraining the time in which language evolved, covering
recent and gradual origins hypotheses. Included are models that interpret the foundations
of language as a sudden emergent property, as well as models that propose an accretionary
accrual of a modern suite of linguistic abilities. A ‘gesture-first’ model is presented in line
with the gradual evolution of language, and tool-making is suggested as a reinforcement
framework for language lateralization and even syntactical operations. Finally, the
supportive biological evidence (including the Kebara 2 hyoid bone and FOXP2) is determined
to reinforce the gradual and gestural models rather than emergent models of language
evolution. What we are left with is a model that posits that language cannot have originated
later than 100kya, could have gained prominence between then and 400,000 years ago and
was already subject to a functional cultural-ecological development prior to this.
