Human language evolution: A view from theoretical linguistics on how syntax and the lexicon first came into being

Human language is a multi-componential function comprising several sub-functions each of which may have evolved in other species independently of language. Among them, two sub-functions, or modules, have been claimed to be truly unique to the humans, namely hierarchical syntax (known as “Merge” in linguistics) and the “lexicon.” This kind of species-specificity stands as a hindrance to our natural understanding of human language evolution. Here we challenge this issue and advance our hypotheses on how human syntax and lexicon may have evolved from pre-existing cognitive capacities in our ancestors and other species including but not limited to nonhuman primates. Specifically, we argue that Merge evolved from motor action planning, and that the human lexicon with the distinction between lexical and functional categories evolved from its predecessors found in animal cognition through a process we call “disintegration.” We build our arguments on recent developments in generative grammar but crucially depart from some of its core ideas by borrowing insights from other relevant disciplines. Most importantly, we maintain that every sub-function of human language keeps evolutionary continuity with other species’ cognitive capacities and reject a saltational emergence of language in favor of its gradual evolution. By doing so, we aim to offer a firm theoretical background on which a promising scenario of language evolution can be constructed

Action Meets Syntax: Evolingo and Biolinguistic Minimalism

The 4th International Conference on Formal Linguistics 招待講演（2009年7月20日　於 Beijing Foreign Studies University

A Prospect for Evolutionary Adequacy: Merge and the Evolution and Development of Human Language

Biolinguistic minimalism seeks a deeper explanation of the design, development and evolution of human language by reducing its core domain to the bare minimum including the set-formation operation Merge. In an attempt to open an avenue of research that may lead to an evolutionarily adequate theory of language, this article makes the following proposals: (i) Merge is the elementary combinatorial device that requires no more decomposition; (ii) the precursor to Merge may be found in the uniquely human capacity for hierarchical object manipulation; (iii) the uniqueness of the human lexicon may also be captured in terms of Merge. Empirical validations of these proposals should constitute one major topic for the biolinguistic program

On the Pendulation of a Water Column in an Open Vertical U-Tube

The friction coefficient for unsteady flow of fluids in pipes has not been studied so well. Usually the friction coefficient for steady flow has been used in place of one for unsteady flow. For a checkup of shis institution, in this paper, the pedulation of water column in an open vertical U-tabe is studied analytically and experimentally. The results of the numerical calculations coincide with the experimental results fairly well

Chapter 1 Introduction

Biolinguistics is a highly interdisciplinary field that seeks the rapprochement between linguistics and biology. Linking theoretical linguistics, theoretical biology, genetics, neuroscience and cognitive psychology, this book offers a collection of chapters situating the enterprise conceptually, highlighting both the promises and challenges of the field, and chapters focusing on the challenges and prospects of taking interdisciplinarity seriously. It provides concrete illustrations of some of the cutting-edge research in biolinguistics and piques the interest of undergraduate students looking for a field to major in and inspires graduate students on possible research directions. It is also meant to show to specialists in adjacent fields how a particular strand of theoretical linguistics relates to their concerns, and in so doing, the book intends to foster collaboration across disciplines

A Naturalist Reconstruction of Minimalist and Evolutionary Biolinguistics

Kinsella & Marcus (2009; K&M) argue that considerations of biological evolution invalidate the picture of optimal language design put forward under the rubric of the minimalist program (Chomsky 1993 et seq.), but in this article it will be pointed out that K&M’s objection is undermined by (i) their misunderstanding of minimalism as imposing an aprioristic presumption of optimality and (ii) their failure to discuss the third factor of language design. It is proposed that the essence of K&M’s suggestion be reconstructed as the sound warning that one should refrain from any preconceptions about the object of inquiry, to which K&M commit themselves based on their biased view of evolution. A different reflection will be cast on the current minimalist literature, arguably along the lines K&M envisaged but never completed, converging on a recommendation of methodological (and, in a somewhat unconventional sense, metaphysical) naturalism

Experimental Syntax for Biolinguistics?

日本英語学会第27回大会　2009年11月15日　於大阪大学　シンポジウム"Experimental Syntax: What We Can Expect, and What We Cannot.

Axion Dark Matter Search with Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors

Axion dark matter differentiates the phase velocities of the circular-polarized photons. In this Letter, a scheme to measure the phase difference by using a linear optical cavity is proposed. If the scheme is applied to the Fabry-P\'erot arm of Advanced LIGO-like (Cosmic-Explorer-like) gravitational wave detector, the potential sensitivity to the axion-photon coupling constant, $g_{\text{a}\gamma}$, reaches $g_{\text{a}\gamma} \simeq 8\times10^{-13}$ GeV$^{-1}\, (4 \times 10^{-14}$ GeV$^{-1})$ at the axion mass $m \simeq 3\times 10^{-13}$ eV ($2\times10^{-15}$ eV) and remains at around this sensitivity for 3 orders of magnitude in mass. Furthermore, its sensitivity has a sharp peak reaching $g_{\text{a}\gamma} \simeq 10^{-14}$ GeV$^{-1}$ $(8\times10^{-17}$ GeV$^{-1})$ at $m = 1.563\times10^{-10}$ eV ($1.563\times10^{-11}$ eV). This sensitivity can be achieved without loosing any sensitivity to gravitational waves.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure