Symbolising and language skills, Biology

Assignment Help:

Language, a powerful tool for communication should have played a very important part in the evolutionary history of human species. Two relevant questions that could be asked of human language in an evolutionary context are : i) when did it originate and ii) what were the selection pressures that led to its development as a powerful facility for the exchange of ideas? There cannot be definitive answers for either of these questions. Yet we can do some knowledgeable speculations.

One of the inan's major adaptations is symbolic thinking and its expression through a symbolic language. Language is the foundation of human culture and this adaptation has distinguished man from other animals and in fact has made him superior to them. Other organisms, however, can also learn a few things, for instance birds can learn to do new things with their beaks by observing another bird. A chimpanzee can put together two sticks to make a long one to obtain a fruit placed out of its reach. But even here the animal can do this only if all the elements are together in one place. In other words, the chimpanzee may not be able to think and go in search of the stick in order to obtain fruit. But recent studies have indeed shown  the chimpanzees, our closest relatives do have the ability to symbolise to some degree.

It is a fact that ability to symbolise has made man enter a new adaptive zone. Also, it was big jump for man from the world of symbolising to a world of words. The development of a spoken language should have been a response to the direct stimuli from the external environment. We earlier raised a question regarding the time-of emergence of the language. Unfortunately the products of language facility cannot enter into the fossil record. Therefore, we have to deal indirectly with the question of when the facility arose. Human brain as distinct from those of other animals provides a reasonable answer to this question. Also, a more careful analysis of the tools and art objects, the horninid products, do indicate of the type of cognitive capabilities necessary for spoken language.


Related Discussions:- Symbolising and language skills

What are peristaltic movements, What are peristaltic movements? What is the...

What are peristaltic movements? What is their role in human digestion? Peristalsis is the process of synchronized contractions of the muscular wall of the digestive tube. Peris

What is lymphatic network, What is Lymphatic Network? The lymphatic net...

What is Lymphatic Network? The lymphatic network consists of the lymphatic vessels, which circulate lymph throughout the body. Lymph is a liquid which carries out exchange of g

Control of aflatoxin, Q. Control of Aflatoxin? Control: Because aflatox...

Q. Control of Aflatoxin? Control: Because aflatoxins are potentially widespread in occurrence and have an insidious combination of acute and chronic toxicity, it is prudent to

Role of private sector in health care - competition, Role of Private Sector...

Role of Private Sector in Health Care - Competition When the private sector is driven by competition it tends to be more efficient. With competition, benefits like cost reduct

What is hemocoel. explain in detail, What is Hemocoel? Explain in detail. ...

What is Hemocoel? Explain in detail. Principle body cavity in molluscs and arthropods, remnant of the blastocoel. It forms part of open circulatory system found in these animal

Explain injection rate and volume, Q. Explain Injection Rate and Volume? ...

Q. Explain Injection Rate and Volume? This is best achieved by injecting directly into the ventricular chamber. Midcavitary position of the catheter ensures that there is no ve

Explain the metabolism - zinc, Explain the Metabolism - Zinc? Zinc has ...

Explain the Metabolism - Zinc? Zinc has been found to play an important biological role in our body. Zinc ions can be chelated and precipitated by a number of chelating agents

What is a centimorgan, What is a centimorgan? Centimorgan, or recombina...

What is a centimorgan? Centimorgan, or recombination unit, by convention is a distance among two linked genes that corresponds to 1% of recombination frequency of these genes.

Describe about cardiomyopathy due to persistent tachycardia, Q. Describe ab...

Q. Describe about Cardiomyopathy due to Persistent Tachycardia? In occasional cases, particularly in children recurrent or incessant episodes of supraventricular or ventricular

Does the fish heart pump venous or arterial blood, Q. Does the fish heart p...

Q. Does the fish heart pump venous or arterial blood? After oxygenation in the gills the arterial blood goes to the tissues so the fish heart pumps venous blood, the venous blo

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd