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Language and life history: Not a new perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2006

Sonia Ragir*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, and American Museum of Natural History, Staten Island, NY10314http://scholar.library.csi.cuny.edu/~ragir/webpage/htm
Patricia J. Brooks*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, College of Staten Island and Graduate Center, City University of New York, Staten Island, NY10314http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/~psy/brooks.htm

Abstract:

The uniqueness of human cognition and language has long been linked to systematic changes in developmental timing. Selection for postnatal skeletal ossification resulted in progressive prolongation of universal patterns of primate growth, lengthening infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Language emerged as communication increased in complexity within and between communities rather than from selection for some unique features of childhood or adolescence, or both.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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