TY - JOUR
T1 - What enables human language?
T2 - A biocultural framework
AU - Arnon, Inbal
AU - Carmel, Liran
AU - Claidière, Nicolas
AU - Fitch, W. Tecumseh
AU - Goldin-Meadow, Susan
AU - Kirby, Simon
AU - Okanoya, Kazuo
AU - Raviv, Limor
AU - Wolters, Lucie
AU - Fisher, Simon E.
N1 - Author contributions: Conceptualization: All authors; Visualization: L.W.,S.K., N.C., L.C., S.E.F.; Funding acquisition: I.A. and L.C. secured the funds for the research fellowship that led to the development of the paper; Project administration: I.A., S.E.F.; Writing –original draft: I.A. and S.E.F. created the first draft of the paper structure and led the introduction.Case studies were drafted by S.E.F. and W.T.F. (vocal production learning); S.K. and I.A. (emergence of structure); and L.R., K.O., and N.C. (pro-sociality). W.T.F. led the writing of the discussion. Figures were drafted by L.W. with S.K. (Fig. 1), S.E.F. (Fig. 2), S.G.-M. (Fig. 3), and W.T.F. (Fig. 4). The table was drafted by S.E.F. Writing – review & editing: Led by I.A. and S.E.F.; all authors contributed.
PY - 2025/12/4
Y1 - 2025/12/4
N2 - Explaining the origins of language is a key challenge in understanding ourselves as a species. We present an empirical framework that draws on synergies across fields to facilitate robust studies of language evolution. The approach is multifaceted, seeing language emergence as dependent on the convergence of multiple capacities, each with their own evolutionary trajectories. It is explicitly biocultural, recognizing and incorporating the importance of both biological preparedness and cultural transmission as well as interactions between them. We demonstrate this approach through three case studies that examine the evolution of different facets involved in human language (vocal production learning, linguistic structure, and social underpinnings).
AB - Explaining the origins of language is a key challenge in understanding ourselves as a species. We present an empirical framework that draws on synergies across fields to facilitate robust studies of language evolution. The approach is multifaceted, seeing language emergence as dependent on the convergence of multiple capacities, each with their own evolutionary trajectories. It is explicitly biocultural, recognizing and incorporating the importance of both biological preparedness and cultural transmission as well as interactions between them. We demonstrate this approach through three case studies that examine the evolution of different facets involved in human language (vocal production learning, linguistic structure, and social underpinnings).
U2 - 10.1126/science.adq8303
DO - 10.1126/science.adq8303
M3 - Review article
C2 - 41264702
AN - SCOPUS:105022522546
SN - 0036-8075
VL - 390
JO - Science (New York, N.Y.)
JF - Science (New York, N.Y.)
IS - 6775
M1 - eadq8303
ER -