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Re: Language evolution in early hominids?
Julian Treadwell (jay@iprolink.co.nz)
21 Nov 1995 07:50:19 GMT
bodhi (Michael McBroom)@earthlink.net (Michael McBroom) wrote:
>
>The subject of language co-evolving with hominids seems to be an old
>one that has acquired new life in recent years. As a linguist just
>beginning graduate studies, and a person who has developed a
>fascination for hominid evolution, I'm interested in tying these
>fields of study together, hopefully as a specialty. My interest
>specifically lies in language acquisition in early hominids, although
>I realize the fossil evidence avaiable to support much discussion one
>way or the other is still of an extremely limited nature.
>Nevertheless, any detailed further reading on the subject of a current
>nature you may be able to offer would be greatly appreciated.
>
I'm a graduate archaeologist working in another field, so I'm a bit out
of touch. However, I read recently about a study of fossil hominid brain
morphology done using CAT-scans of fossil skulls to build computer images
of the brains. This research was concerned with cooling of the brain by
the vascular system, but it occurred to me at the time that the brain
images might say something about development of the speech centre. They
also might not, of course, as I'm no neurobiologist and don't know enough
about it - but it's a thought.
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