Language Evolution: The View from Restricted Linguistic Systems

Abstract

The chapters of this volume investigate the evolution of a range of features of language, including temporality, negation, noun combining, and functional categories. The authors adopt what is known as the “Windows Approach” to the study of language evolution. Two ideas are fundamental to this approach: the recognition that no direct evidence of the evolution of language has survived, and the working assumption that at least some facets of the evolution of language can be studied by investigating other – so-called window – phenomena about which there is direct evidence. In studying the evolution of the above-mentioned features of language, the authors adopt restricted linguistic systems as such “windows”. These include incipient pidgins, homesign systems used by deaf children of non-signing parents, and the linguistic systems acquired naturally by second language learners, as represented by the Basic Variety. The volume, in addition, includes a discussion of the principles of the Windows Approach to the study of language evolution.

The volume will be of particular interest to linguists and advanced students who work on the evolution of language, language structure, semantics, pidgins and other contact varieties, homesign systems and sign languages, as well as the systems acquired naturally by adult second language learners. The discussion and use of the Windows Approach should be of interest to non-linguists working on language evolution too.