The Biological and Social Foundations of Evolution of Language and Communication: Current Discussions

Abstract

The article compares the theoretical and methodological differences between biological
(cognitive, biolinguistic) and socio-cultural approaches to understanding the nature and evolution
of language and communication. Contemporary integrative approaches (in ecolinguistics,
biosemiotics distributed language theory) that combine natural and social grounds of evolution
of communication are discussed. It is emphasized that studies of genetic and cognitive bases of
language have to be reinforce by studies in non-genetic inheritance systems, cumulative cultural
evolution and “distributed” models of social activities.