If there is one trait that is uniquely human, it is our capacity for language. But when and why did this trait evolve? Clues to the origins, evolution, and use of language may exist by studying the brains and behaviors of other groups of animals in addition to our own. In this seminar, we will discuss how social experience and speech/language deficits have informed our understanding of how the human brain and body govern our ability to communicate with sounds (e.g., speech) and gestures (e.g., sign). By examining the nervous and communication systems of other animal species, we will identify additional biological bases necessary for speech and, potentially, language. Students will be expected to prepare written responses to readings, lead a class discussion, write a final term paper, and participate in an oral debate. Students will read literature from multiple disciplines (e.g., psychology, biology, anthropology) and theorize about how and why language evolved and what may be special about our brains to support this human-specific behavior.
Psychology 215 or 225.