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

Bilateral - metazoa, Bilateral - Metazoa Bilaterally symmetrical anima...

Bilateral - Metazoa Bilaterally symmetrical animals have the major axis running from head (anterior) to tail (posterior). They have a ventral (lower) and dorsal (upper) surfac

Percussion - criteria for endosteal implants, Percussion - criteria for end...

Percussion - criteria for endosteal implants? It is neither an indicator of clinical health nor of rigid fixation. Ringing sound that occurs on percussion corresponds to the pr

Phylum , General characteristics of phylum

General characteristics of phylum

Biology - a science of exception, BIOLOGY - A SCIENCE OF EXCEPTION - So...

BIOLOGY - A SCIENCE OF EXCEPTION - Some common examples to prove it are - 1.       Embryos of dicot plants have 2 cotyledons but in cuscuta (Dodder plant or amer bel or Aka

Assessment and nursing care plans, Assessment and Nursing Care Plans C...

Assessment and Nursing Care Plans Clustered Case Study Mr. Smith is an 83 year old gentleman (DOB 1.2.1928), who lives alone in his home on a cattle farm west of Ravenshoe.

Determine the case when starches treated with heat, Determine the case when...

Determine the case when starches treated with heat In the case of starches treated with heat in presence of acid or alkali, the alteration is a minor fragmentation; similarly,

Antiarrhythmic therapy, Patients with heart failure have a high incidence o...

Patients with heart failure have a high incidence of both symptomatic and asymptomatic arrhythmias. About 10 per cent of patients have syncope or presyncope resulting from ventr

Characteristics of gametes, Characteristics of Gametes Following are s...

Characteristics of Gametes Following are some general characteristics of gametes: 1. The female gametes are usually laden with food material, the yolk, while the male gamet

What is suprasternal views in echocardiography, Q. What is Suprasternal Vie...

Q. What is Suprasternal Views in echocardiography? To complete the echocardiography in the patients with CHD these views are essential. For optimal windows patient should lie

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