Human language as a culturally transmitted replicator.

Culturally transmitted mating preferences may generate sexual selection in human and protocultural animal species if they influence the intensity of selection on genetically transmitted physical and behavioral traits. Haploid and diploid two-…

Most human beliefs are acquired through communication, and so are most misbeliefs. Just like the misbeliefs discussed by McKay & Dennett (M&D), culturally transmitted misbeliefs tend to result from limitations rather than malfunctions of the…

Discusses the development of voluntary speech and syntax in humans as a distinguishing factor from other primates. The author's own previous works, including his (1991) "Uniquely Human: The Evolution of Speech, Thought, and Selfless Behavior," are…

Recent anthropological findings document how certain lowland South American societies hold beliefs in 'partible paternity', which allow children to have more than one 'biological' father. This contrasts with Western beliefs in 'singular paternity',…

Contra Wilkins & Wakefield, we argue that an evolutionarily inspired approach to language must consider different facets of language (i.e., more than syntax and semantics), and must explore the possibility of nonhuman precursors. Several examples…

The gargle vocalization of the black-capped chickadee, Parus atricapillus, was recorded at the same site over a 19-year period. This vocalization consists of an array of different note types that are combined to generate various call types. Each…

The archaeological record is the empirical record of human cultural evolution. By measuring rates of change in archaeological data through time and space it is possible to estimate both the various evolutionary mechanisms that contribute to the…

Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) have an alarm substance (AS), or `Schreckstoff', in epidermal club cells. Mechanical damage to the skin, as caused by a predator attack, releases the AS. The area in which conspecifics detect AS may be…

BAKER TAYLOR Eve Spoke presents a compelling case for the pivotal role that speech has played in human language and human evolution.

Isolating-Monocategorial-Associational (IMA) Language is language with the following three properties: (a) morphologically isolating, without word-internal morphological structure; (b) syntactically monocategorial, without distinct syntactic…