The Adaptive Value of Languages: Non-Linguistic Causes of Language Diversity
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https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/5478/the-adaptive-value-of-languages-non-linguistic-causes-of-language-diversityAuthor(s)
Steven Moran
Antonio Benítez-Burraco
Language
EnglishAbstract
The goal of this eBook is to shed light on the non-linguistic causes of language diversity, and in particular, to explore the possibility that some aspects of the structure of languages may result from an adaptation to the natural and/or human-made environment. Traditionally, language diversity has been claimed to result from random, internally-motivated changes in language structure. However, ongoing research suggests instead that different factors that are external to language can promote language change and ultimately account for aspects of language diversity, specifically features of the social and physical environments. The contributions in this eBook discuss whether some aspects of languages are an adaptation to ecological, social, or even technological niches.
Keywords
Language change; environment; Sociocultural factors; cognition; language development; Linguistic diversity; adaptation; linguistic relativism; language complexity; recursionISBN
9782889456314Publisher
Frontiers Media SAPublisher website
www.frontiersin.orgPublication date and place
2018Series
Frontiers Research Topics,Classification
Psychology
Psychology