Contents 10
Preface 6
Panel of Reviewers 8
Part I: Papers 18
Is Pointing the Root of the Foot? Grounding the \ 20
1. Introduction 20
2. Emergence as mergence: Sign+Sign=>Sign and Foot+Foot=>Foot 20
3. The syllable, then the point: whence the word? 22
4. Beyond the presented Framework (Fig.1) 23
5. Summary 23
References 25
The Subcortical Foundations of Grammaticalization 27
1. Introduction 27
2. The Explanandum of Grammaticalization 27
3. From Grammaticalization to the Cerebellum and the Basal ganglia 28
4. The Neurolinguistic Grounding of Grammaticalization 29
4.1. Cerebellar-induced Kalman Gain Reduction in Linguistic Processing 29
4.1.1. Chunking andphonetic attrition 30
4.1.2. Semantic bleaching and proceduralization of conceptual representations 30
4.2. Striatal Regulation of Cortical Unification Operations 31
5. Conclusion 32
Acknowledgments 33
References 33
Pragmatics and Theory of Mind: A Problem Exportable to the Origins of Language 35
1. The problem 35
2. Second-person belief: An easier path for alien belief grasping 36
3. Applying the easy way for alien belief grasping to historic origin 37
4. There was no need for previous syntax, but a sign with precise referential link was required 38
5. What would a pre-syntactic linguistic sign be like? Trying not to take for granted our own schemes 39
6. Protodeclaratives in their disambiguating role 41
References 42
Two Neglected Factors in Language Evolution 43
References 49
Expressing Second Order Semantics and the Emergence of Recursion 51
1. Introduction 51
2. Grounded semantic constraint networks 52
3. Mapping semantic constraint networks onto language 53
4. Three steps towards the emergence of recursive rules 54
4.1. Starting from scratch 54
4.2. Substituting a primitive constraint 55
4.3. Adding a primitive constraint 55
5. Multi-agent simulation 56
6. Conclusion 57
Acknowledgements 58
References 58
Unravelling the Evolution of Language with Help from the Giant Water Bug, Natterjack Toad and Horned Lizard 59
1. On a field that is \u201cgoing places\u201d 59
2. Enter the bugs and the beasts 61
References 64
Linguistic Adaptations for Resolving Ambiguity 68
1. Introduction 68
2. Psycholinguistic Data 68
3. \u2019Qpological Data 70
4. The Role of Prosody 70
5. TheModel 71
6. CorpusAJsage-based Predictions 73
7. Discussion and Conclusions 74
References 74
Modelling Language Competition: Bilingualism and Complex Social Networks 76
1. Introduction 76
2. The Bilinguals Model 77
3. Results 79
3.1. Regular and small world networks 79
3.2. Social type network with community structure 80
4. Conclusion and Further Research 81
Acknowledgements 82
References 83
Language, the Torque and the Speciation Event 84
1.1. Darwinian Gradualism and Huxley\u2019s Doubt 84
1.2. Saltations Modulated By Sexual Selection 85
1.3. The Xq21.3flp Duplication 86
References 89
The Emergence of Compositionality, Hierarchy and Recursion in Peer-to-Peer Interactions 92
1. Introduction 92
2. Experimental Setup 93
2.1. Scenes and Topics 93
2.2. Language Model 94
3. Results 95
4. Discussion and Conclusion 97
References 98
Causal Correlations between Genes and Linguistic Features: The Mechanism of Gradual Language Evolution 100
1. Language evolution as a gradual, accretionary process 100
2. Linguistic and genetic causal correlations -the case of linguistic tone, ASPM and Microcephalin 102
3. Linguistic and genetic causal correlations - the mechanism of gradual, accretionary language evolution? 104
Acknowledgements 105
References 105
Spontaneous Narrative Behaviour in Homo Sapiens: How Does It Benefit Speakers? 108
1. Spontaneous narratives: a fundamental component of language 108
2. Narratives in daily speech 108
3. The selection of reportable events 111
3.1. Unexpectedness 111
3.2. Emotion 112
4. Why are conversational stories told? 112
References 115
What do Modern Behaviours in Homo Sapiens Imply for the Evolution of Language? 116
1. Introduction 116
2. Modern behaviors and language evolution: the link is still missing 117
3. Modern sapiens behaviors are not all symbolic 118
4. The level-2 perspective-taking hypothesis 118
5. Implications for the evolution of language 121
Acknowledgements 122
References 122
The Origins of Preferred Argument Structure 124
1. An Introduction to Preferred Argument Structure 124
2. Another Look at the Numbers 127
3. A Note on the Preponderance of Nominative Patterns 130
4. Conclusion 131
References 131
Long-Distance Dependencies are not Uniquely Human 132
1. Introduction 132
2. LDDs and human language: the consensus view 134
3. LDDs and the complexity of human language 135
4. LDDs are not uniquely human 135
5. Some conclusions: LDDs and the evolution of human language 137
Acknowledgements 138
References 138
How Much Grammar Does It Take to Sail a Boat? (Or, What can Material Artifacts Tell Us about the Evolution of Language?) 140
1. Complexity of Language, Complexity of Civilization 140
2. Isolating-Monocategorial-Associational Language 141
3. Riau Indonesian as a Relative IMA Language 142
4. IMA Language is all that's Needed to Sail a Boat 143
5. Why is Grammar so Complex? 145
References 147
The Role of Cultural Transmission in Intention Sharing 148
1. Introduction 148
2. A brief Review of the Language Emergence Model 149
3. The Cultural Transmission Framework 151
4. The Simulation Results 152
5. Conclusions 154
Acknowledgements 155
References 155
The Role of Naming Game in Social Structure 156
I . Introduction 156
2. The Naming Game with a Distance Constraint 158
2.1. Exp. 1: frved torus size but various distance restriction 160
2.2. Exp. 2: various torus size but frved distance restriction 160
3. Conclusions 162
Acknowledgements 163
References 163
Do Individuals Preferences Determine Case Marking Systems? 164
1. Explaining case systems 164
1.1. Discourse \u201cmotivations\u201d 164
1.2. Evolutionary Game Theory Approach 165
2. On the Origins of Split Ergative Systems 167
2.1. The relationship between A and S roles 170
3. Conclusions 171
References 171
What Impact Do Learning Biases have on Linguistic Structures? 172
1. Three models of learning bias 173
2. Learning Biases in an Iterated Learning Model 174
2.1. Learning rules 174
2.2. Results and Explanation 175
3. Discussion 178
References 179
Reanalysis vs Metaphor: What Grammaticalisation CAN Tell Us about Language Evolution 180
1. Introduction 180
2. Metaphor vs. reanalysis 181
3. Reconstructible meanings 184
3.1. Burling\u2019s scenario revisited 186
4. Conclusion 186
References 187
Seeking Compositionality in Holistic Proto-Language without Substructure: Do Counter-Examples Overwhelm the Fractionation Process? 188
1. Introduction 188
2. Model 190
3. Results 192
4. Discussion 193
References 194
Unravelling Digital Infinity 196
1.1. Digital minds in an analog world 196
1.2. Analog minds in a digital world 198
1.3. A Darwinian solution 200
References 202
Language Scaffolding as a Condition for Growth in Linguistic Complexity 204
1. Introduction 204
1.1. Assumptions 205
2. The complexity-diversity-effort frontier 206
3. Implementation and experiments 207
3.1. Measuring linguistic diversity 207
3.2. Generating diversity 208
3.3. Linguistic Complexity 209
3.4. Experimental result 209
4. Scaffolding and staged learning 209
5. Conclusions 211
References 211
The Emergence of a Lexicon by Prototype-Categorising Agents in a Structured Infinite World 212
1. Introduction 212
2. A new model 213
2.1. Changes relative to previous models 213
2.2. The world 214
2.3. Categories 214
2.4. Category development 215
2.5. Lexical development 216
3. Simulations 217
4. Discussion 218
References 219
Evolutionary Framework for the Language Faculty 220
1. Introduction 220
2. Functional interfaces and functional dependencies 221
3. Recursion and embedding 221
3.1. Recursion 222
3.2. Embedding. Recursion in non-human communication ? 223
4. Conceptual embedding 223
5. Conclusion 225
Abbreviations 225
Acknowledgements 226
References 226
Artificial Symbol Systems in Dolphins and Apes: Analogous Communicative Evolution? 228
1. Symbol Systems in Dolphins and Apes 228
2. Methods (See Table 1 for Methodological comparison) 229
2.1. Dolphin Keyboard Project (DKP) 229
2.2. Language Research Center (LRC) 229
2.3. Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory (KBMML) 230
3. Results 231
3.1. Acquisition and use of artificial systems 231
3.2. Observations of communicative innovations 233
4. Discussion 233
Acknowledgements 234
References 234
The Adaptiveness of Metacommunicative Interaction in a Foraging Environment 236
1. Introduction 236
2. Model of MCI with an Ecologically Functional Language 237
2.1. Foraging Environment 238
2.2. The Agent 238
2.3. Communication Protocol 239
2.3.1. Deception 239
2.3.2. Asking for Food Location 240
2.4. Summary 240
3. Experimental Results 240
4. Conclusions 242
References 243
On the Impact of Community Structure on Self-organizing Lexical Networks 244
1. Introduction 244
2. A Three-Level Simulation Model of Self-organizing Lexical Networks 245
2.1. Agent Networking 246
2.2. Lexical Networking 247
2.3. Association Games 247
3. Experimentation 248
4. Conclusion 249
References 250
A Crucial Step in the Evolution of Syntactic Complexity 252
1. Introduction 252
2. From parataxis to hypotaxis 253
3. Event individuation and the evolution of syntactic complexity 257
4. Conclusions 258
Acknowledgements 258
References 258
Evolution of the Global Organization of the Lexicon 260
1. Introduction 260
2. Small-World Networks of Nouns and Verbs in WordNet and TOE 261
3. The Effects of Word Frequency 263
4. An Evolutionary Perspective 265
5. Conclusion 267
Acknowledgements 267
References 267
From Mouth to Eye 268
1. Introduction 268
2. Towards a serniogenetic theory of the language sign 269
3. Mouth-eye coordination 270
4. Submorphemic evidence for mouth-to-eye transfer from PIE 271
5. Conclusions 273
References 274
What Use is Half a Clause? 276
1. How to Halve Syntax 276
2. Incredulity Half Clause: Specialization for Mood 277
3. Perfective Half Clauses in English: Specialization for Time/Aspect 279
4. Unaccusative Half Clauses in Serbian: Time, Aspect, Agreement, Word Order 280
5. Retracing the Steps 281
Acknowledgements 282
References 282
The Formation, Generative Power, and Evolution of Toponyms: Grounding Vocabulary in a Cognitive Map 284
1. Introduction 284
2. Study 1. Formation of Toponyms 286
3. Study 2. Generative Power of Toponyms 287
4. Study 3. Evolution of Toponym 289
5. General Discussion and Conclusion 290
Acknowledgements 291
References 291
On the Correct Application of Animal Signalling Theory to Human Communication 292
1. The Problem of Reliability 292
2. The Handicap Principle 293
3. Alternatives to the Handicap Principle 294
3.1. Indices 294
3.2. Coordination games 294
3.3. Repeated interactions 294
3.4. Punishment of false signals 295
4. Three Routes to Stability 295
5. Reputation as Deterrent 295
6. Concluding Remarks 297
Acknowledgement 298
References 298
Natural Selection for Communication Favours the Cultural Evolution of Linguistic Structure 300
1. Introduction 300
2. The model of learning and cultural transmission 302
3. Evaluating evolutionary stability 303
4. Discussion and conclusions 306
Acknowledgements 307
References 307
Syntax, a System of Efficient Growth 308
1. Natural Law 308
1.1. Fibonacci Numbers 308
1.2. Syntactic Trees 309
1.3. Zero Merge 310
2. Types of Syntactic Merge 310
2.1. Argument Structure (External Merge) 310
2.2. Phase Formation (Internal Merge) 312
2.3. Strict Cycle Condition 313
3. Natural Law and Syntactic Recursion 313
References 315
Simple, but not too Simple: Learnability vs. Functionality in Language Evolution 316
1. Introduction 316
2. The Classification Game 318
3. Experiments 319
3.1. Driving simplicity: communication without task learning 319
3.2. Driving complexity: task learning without communication 320
3.3. Finding balance: coupled task-communication learning 321
3.4. Coupled learning: the emergence of a holistic language 322
4. Conclusion 322
References 323
Kin Selection and Linguistic Complexity 324
1. Introduction: evolution and the components of the language faculty 324
2. Vocalization in early hominin infants and mothers 326
3. Teaching, learning and information exchange 327
4. Where does syntax come from? 329
5. How did protolanguage ever leave home? 330
6. Conclusion 330
References 330
Regularity in Mappings Between Signals and Meanings 332
1. Introduction 332
2. Quantifying Linguistic Regularity 333
2.1. RegMap from a signal dimension to a meaning dimension 334
2.2. RegMap for the entire language 335
3. Miniature artificial language learning experiments 336
3.1. Results 337
3.2. Discussion 338
4. Conclusion 338
Acknowledgements 339
References 339
Emergence of Sentence Types in Simulated Adaptive Agents 340
1. Introduction 340
2. Previous studies 341
2.1. Iizuka and Ikegam. (2004) 341
2.2. Marocco & Nolfi (2006) 342
2.3. Comparison of the two simulations 342
3. Variations of the Signaling model 343
3.1. New setup 343
3.2. Two form of collective behaviors 343
4. Discussion: Sentence Typology 346
References 347
Desperately Evolving Syntax 348
1. Syntactic Boundary Conditions 348
2. Where do Standard Accounts Fail to Meet Syntax? 349
3. Towards a Different Approach 351
4. Searching for Real Answers 352
References 353
Constraint-Based Compositional Semantics Wouter 355
1. Introduction 355
2. Semantic building blocks 356
3. Constraint programs 357
3.1. Exumples 357
4. Conceptualisation 358
5. Conclusions 361
Acknowledgements 362
References 362
The Emergence of Semantic Roles in Fluid Construction Grammar 363
1. Introduction 363
2. Semantic Roles and Fusion in Fluid Construction Grammar 364
3. Experiments on the Emergence of Semantic Roles 367
4. Results and Discussion 369
5. Conclusion 369
Acknowledgement 370
References 370
Broadcast Transmission, Signal Secrecy and Gestural Primacy Hypothesis 371
1. Definitions and caveats 371
2. The fundamental constraint on the evolution of communication 372
3. Broadcast transmission 373
4. The costs of signalling in (proto)language 374
5. The secrecy of gestural signals 375
6 . Conclusion 376
References 377
Self-Interested Agents can Bootstrap Symbolic Communication if They Punish Cheaters 379
1. The Reciprocal Naming Game 379
2. Agent Architecture 381
3. Player Strategies 382
4. Experimental Results 382
4.1. Retaliation allows deception to be tolerated 383
4.2. More memory prevents the death spiral 384
4.3. Limited numbers of free riders are bearable 384
4.4. Reciprocation produces coherence in spite of deception 384
5. Conclusion 386
Acknowledgments 386
References 386
Coping with Combinatorial Uncertainty in Word Learning: A Flexible Usage-Based Model 387
1. Introduction 387
2. Overview of the model 388
3. Experimental results 390
4. Conclusion 392
Acknowledgements 393
References 393
Removing 'Mind-Reading' from the Iterated Learning Model 395
1. Introduction 395
2. Shortcomings of the Iterated Learning Approach 396
3. Self-organking Maps and Iterated Learning 397
4. Results 399
5. Conclusions 401
References 402
How does Niche Construction in Learning Environment Trigger the Reverse Baldwin Effect? 403
1. Introduction 403
2. Masking and Unmasking processes 403
3. Computer simulation 404
3.1. Model Structure 404
4. Results 407
5. Analysis 407
6. Conclusion 409
References 410
Part II: Abstracts 412
Coexisting Linguistic Conventions in Generalized Language Games 414
References 415
Complex Systems Approach to Natural Categorization 416
References 417
Regular Morphology as a Cultural Adaptation: Non-Uniform Frequency in an Experimental Iterated Learning Model 418
References 419
Neural Dissociation between Vocal Production and Auditory Recognition Memory in Both Songbirds and Humans 420
1. Emancipation of the bird brain 420
2. The neural substrate of tutor song memory in songbirds 420
3. Neural dissociation between vocal production and auditory memory 421
References 421
Discourse Without Symbols: Orangutans Communicate Strategically in Response to Recipient Understanding 422
References 423
Taking Wittgenstein Seriously: Indicators of the Evolution of Language 424
An Experiment Exploring Language Emergence: How to See the Invisible Hand and Why We Should 426
References 427
The Syntax of Coordination and the Evolution of Syntax 428
References 429
The Archaeology of Language Origin 430
The Joy of Sacs 432
1. Introduction 432
2. Preliminary results 432
3. Discussion 433
Acknowledgement 433
References 433
How Complex Syntax Could Be 434
The Multiple Stages of Protolanguage 436
References 437
A Human Model of Color Term Evolution 438
References 439
Evolution of Song Culture in the Zebra Finch 440
References 441
Iterated Language Learning in Children 442
References 443
Gesture, Speech and Language 444
References 445
Introducing the Units and Levels of Evolution Debate into Evolutionary Linguistics 446
What can the Study of Handedness in Nonhuman Apes Tell Us about the Evolution of Language? 448
Acknowledgements 449
References 449
Unidirectional Meaning Change with Metaphoric and Metonymic Inferencing 450
References 451
Recent Adaptive Evolution of Human Genes Related to Hearing 452
References 453
Inhibition and Language: A Pre-Condition for Symbolic Communicative Behaviour 454
References 455
Pragmatic Plasticity: A Pivotal Design Feature? 456
References 457
Continuity between Non-Human Primates and Modern Humans? 458
References 459
After all, a \ 460
References 461
Labels and Recursion: From Adjunction-Syntax to Predicate-Argument Relations 462
References 463
Iterated Learning with Selection: Convergence to Saturation 464
References 465
A Reaction-Diffusion Approach to Modelling Language Competition 466
References 467
Accent Over Race: The Role of Language in Guiding Children's Early Social Preferences 468
References 469
Language, Culture and Biology: Does Language Evolve to be Passed on by Us, and Did Humans Evolve to Let that Happen? 470
References 471
Selected Publications 472
Three Issues in Modeling the Language Convergence Problem as a Multiagent Agreement Problem 473
References 474
The Development of a Social Signal in Free-Ranging Chimpanzees 475
Gestural Modes of Representation - A Multi-Disciplinary Approach 477
Acknowledgements 478
References 478
Extracommunicative Functions of Language: Verbal Interference Causes Categorization Impairments 479
Form-Meaning Compositionality Derives from Social and Conceptual Diversity 481
Language as Kluge 483
References 484
Origins of Communication in Autonomous Robots 485
References 486
Handedness for Gestural Communication and Non-Communicative Actions in Chimpanzees and Baboons: Implications for Language Origins 487
References 488
The Evolution of Hypothetical Reasoning: Intelligibility or Reliability? 489
References 490
Simulation of Creolization by Evolutionary Dynamics 491
References 492
Evolution of Phonological Complexity: Loss of Species-Specific Bias Leads to more Generalized Learnability in a Species of Songbirds 493
Acknowledgements 494
References 494
Referential Gestures in Chimpanzees in the Wild: Precursors to Symbolic Communication? 495
Modeling Language Emergence by Way of Working Memory 497
1. The working memory hypothesis 497
2. The proposed model 498
References 498
Mechanistic Language Circuits: What Can be Learned? What is Pre-Wired? 499
References 500
Reflections on the Invention and Reinvention of the Primate Playback Experiment 502
References 503
An Experimental Approach to the Role of Freerider Avoidance in the Development of Linguistic Diversity 504
References 505
Prosody and Linguistic Complexity in an Emerging Language 506
References 507
Communication, Cooperation and Coherence Putting Mathematical Models into Perspective 508
References 509
A Numerosity-Based Alarm Call System in King Colobus Monkeys 510
On There and Then: From Object Permanence to Displaced Reference 512
References 513
Signalling Signalhood and the Emergence of Communication 514
Acknowledgements 515
References 515
Wild Chimpanzees Modify the Structure of Victim Screams According to Audience Composition 516
References 517
An Experimental Study on the Role of Language in the Emergence and Maintenance of Human Cooperation 518
References 519
Replicator Dynamics of Language Processing 520
References 521
Syntactical and Prosodic Cues in Song Segmentation Learning by Bengalese Finches 522
Acknowledgements 523
References 523
Why the Transition to Cumulative Symbolic Culture is Rare 524
Acknowledgments 525
References 525
A Gradual Path to Hierarchical Phrase-Structure: Insights from Modeling and Corpus-Data 526
References 527
Author Index 528