理论与方法专栏 | 句法的生物基础与起源

Abstract：

Interdisciplinary perspectives on the evolutionary and biological roots of syntax, describing current research on syntax in fields ranging from linguistics to neurology. Syntax is arguably the most human-specific aspect of language. Despite the proto-linguistic capacities of some animals, syntax appears to be the last major evolutionary transition in humans that has some genetic basis. Yet what are the elements to a scenario that can explain such a transition? In this book, experts from linguistics, neurology and neurobiology, cognitive psychology, ecology and evolutionary biology, and computer modeling address this question. Unlike most previous work on the evolution of language, Biological Foundations and Origin of Syntax follows through on a growing consensus among researchers that language can be profitably separated into a number of related and interacting but largely autonomous functions, each of which may have a distinguishable evolutionary history and neurological base. The contributors argue that syntax is such a function. The book describes the current state of research on syntax in different fields, with special emphasis on areas in which the findings of particular disciplines might shed light on problems faced by other disciplines. It defines areas where consensus has been established with regard to the nature, infrastructure, and evolution of the syntax of natural languages; summarizes and evaluates contrasting approaches in areas that remain controversial; and suggests lines for future research to resolve at least some of these disputed issues.

简介：

该书从跨学科视角展示了句法的生物起源与演变，介绍了目前语言学和神经学领域中的句法相关研究。句法无疑是语言中最具人类特点一个方面——尽管某些动物也具备原始的语言能力，但是句法似乎是人类进化历程中最后一次具有遗传基础的重大转变。那么，是哪些因素促成了这样的转变？该书中，来自语言学、神经学、神经生物学、认知心理学、生态学、进化生物学以及计算机建模领域的专家对此作出了解答。不同于此前大多数关于语言进化的研究，该书主要基于研究者们越来越多的共识，即：语言是由许多相互关联、相互作用但又高度自治的功能共同构成的，并且每个功能都可能有不同的进化历史和神经基础，句法便是其中之一。该书描述了目前不同领域对句法的研究情况，并着重强调了某些领域中的研究成果，可为其他学科所面临的问题提供新视角。该书不仅界定了在自然语言的性质、基础结构和句法演变方面已达成共识的领域，还总结、评价了仍存在争议的领域中的不同观点，并且为未来的研究方向提出了建议，以此解决一部分争议问题。

-Derek Bickerton-

Derek Bickerton，美国夏威夷大学荣誉退休语言学教授，研究兴趣为克里奥尔语和皮钦语，著有Roots of Language（《语言的起源》，于1985年在Karoma Publishers出版）、Language and Species（《语言与物种》，于1992年在University of Chicago Press出版）、Language and Human Behavior （《语言与人类行为》，于1996年在University of Washington Press出版）。

Derek Bickerton was Professor of Linguistics, Emeritus, at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu. He used to concentrate on the study of creole languages and pidgins, and he was the author of Roots of Language (Karoma Publishers, 1985) , Language and Species (University Of Chicago Press, 1992) and Language and Human Behavior (University of Washington Press, 1996). 

-Eörs Szathmáry-

Eörs Szathmáry，匈牙利理论进化生物学家，德国慕尼黑Parmenides基金会科学概念基础中心（the Parmenides Center for the Conceptual Foundations of Science）负责人，研究课题包括进化大事件、生命起源和遗传密码、人类语言官能的出现及生物结构层次的出现等。同时，他曾与John Maynard Smith合著The Major Transitions in Evolution （《进化大事件》，于1995年在Freeman出版）和The Origins of Life （《生命的起源》，于1999年在Oxford University Press出版）。

Eörs Szathmáry is a Hungarian theoretical evolutionary biologist and the director of the Parmenides Center for the Conceptual Foundations of Science at the Parmenides Foundation in Munich, Germany. His research topics include: the major evolutionary transitions, origins of life and the genetic code, emergence of the human language faculty, levels and so on. And He is the co-author with John Maynard Smith of The Major Transitions in Evolution (Freeman, 1995) and The Origins of Life (Oxford University Press, 1999).

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本文版权归“理论语言学五道口站”所有，转载请联系本平台。

编辑：黄静雯 董泽扬

排版：黄静雯

审校：时仲 吴伟韬 董泽扬

英文编审负责人：黄静雯 董泽扬