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Nature 456, 40-41 (6 November 2008) | doi:10.1038/456040a; Published online 5 November 2008
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Being Human: Language: a social history of words
Eörs Szathmáry1 & Szabolcs Számadó1
- Eörs Szathmáry and Szabolcs Számadó are at the Biological Institute of Eötvös Loránd University, 1/c Pázmány Péter sétány, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary. E.S. is also at the Collegium Budapest and the Parmenides Center for the Study of Thinking, Munich, Germany.
Email: szathmary@colbud.hu
Abstract
Language evolved as part of a uniquely human group of traits, the interdependence of which calls for an integrated approach to the study of brain function, argue Eörs Szathmáry and Szabolcs Számadó.
Our ability to communicate using language is often cited as the element that sets us apart from other animals. Although language is not uniquely human in all aspects — dogs and apes, for example, can learn the meaning of many words — it almost certainly merits special status.
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