Verbal proficiency as fitness indicator: Experimental and comparative research on the evolutionary psychology of language and verbal displays

Summary: Recent research on the evolution of language and verbal displays (e.g., Miller, 1999, 2000a, 2000b, 2002) indicated that language is not only the result of natural selection but serves as a sexually-selected fitness indicator that is an adaptation showing an individual’s suitability as a reproductive mate. Thus, language could be placed within the framework of concepts such as the handicap principle (Zahavi, 1975). There are several reasons for this position: Many linguistic traits are highly heritable (Stromswold, 2001, 2005), while naturally-selected traits are only marginally heritable (Miller, 2000a); men are more prone to verbal displays than women, who in turn judge the displays (Dunbar, 1996; Locke & Bogin, 2006; Lange, in press; Miller, 2000a; Rosenberg & Tunney, 2008); verbal proficiency universally raises especially male status (Brown, 1991); many linguistic features are handicaps (Miller, 2000a) in the Zahavian sense; most literature is produced by men at reproduction-relevant age (Miller, 1999). However, neither an experimental study investigating the causal relation between verbal proficiency and attractiveness, nor a study showing a correlation between markers of literary and mating success existed. In the current studies, it was aimed to fill these gaps. In the first one, I conducted a laboratory experiment. Videos in which an actor and an actress performed verbal self-presentations were the stimuli for counter-sex participants. Content was always alike, but the videos differed on three levels of verbal proficiency. Predictions were, among others, that (1) verbal proficiency increases mate value, but that (2) this applies more to male than to female mate value due to assumed past sex-different selection pressures causing women to be very demanding in mate choice (Trivers, 1972). After running a two-factorial analysis of variance with the variables sex and verbal proficiency as factors, the first hypothesis was supported with high effect size. For the second hypothesis, there was only a trend going in the predicted direction. Furthermore, it became evident that verbal proficiency affects long-term more than short-term mate value. In the second study, verbal proficiency as a menstrual cycle-dependent mate choice criterion was investigated. Basically the same materials as in the former study were used with only marginal changes in the used questionnaire. The hypothesis was that fertile women rate high verbal proficiency in men higher than non-fertile women because of verbal proficiency being a potential indicator of “good genes”. However, no significant result could be obtained in support of the hypothesis in the current study. In the third study, the hypotheses were: (1) most literature is produced by men at reproduction-relevant age. (2) The more works of high literary quality a male writer produces, the more mates and children he has. (3) Lyricists have higher mating success than non-lyric writers because of poetic language being a larger handicap than other forms of language. (4) Writing literature increases a man’s status insofar that his offspring shows a significantly higher male-to-female sex ratio than in the general population, as the Trivers-Willard hypothesis (Trivers & Willard, 1973) applied to literature predicts. In order to test these hypotheses, two famous literary canons were chosen. Extensive biographical research was conducted on the writers’ mating successes. The first hypothesis was confirmed; the second one, controlling for life age, only for number of mates but not entirely regarding number of children. The latter finding was discussed with respect to, among others, the availability of effective contraception especially in the 20th century. The third hypothesis was not satisfactorily supported. The fourth hypothesis was partially supported. For the 20th century part of the German list, the secondary sex ratio differed with high statistical significance from the ratio assumed to be valid for a general population.

The Logical Problem of Language Change

This paper considers the problem of language change. Linguists must explain not only how languages are learned but also how and why they have evolved along certain trajectories and not others. While the language learning problem has focused on the behavior of individuals and how they acquire a particular grammar from a class of grammars ${cal G}$, here we consider a population of such learners and investigate the emergent, global population characteristics of linguistic communities over several generations. We argue that language change follows logically from specific assumptions about grammatical theories and learning paradigms. In particular, we are able to transform parameterized theories and memoryless acquisition algorithms into grammatical dynamical systems, whose evolution depicts a population's evolving linguistic composition. We investigate the linguistic and computational consequences of this model, showing that the formalization allows one to ask questions about diachronic that one otherwise could not ask, such as the effect of varying initial conditions on the resulting diachronic trajectories. From a more programmatic perspective, we give an example of how the dynamical system model for language change can serve as a way to distinguish among alternative grammatical theories, introducing a formal diachronic adequacy criterion for linguistic theories.

The acquisition of expository uses of language

Objective: This study offers a description of the kinds of linguistic aids offered by adults while giving explanations to young children about different issues. During the midst of these conversations children have several opportunities to learn, not only from objects and events, but also from the utterances used to refer to them, learning how realities are named after, and in many cases, how to participate in them. Methodology: Through the analysis of eleven minutes of interaction between young child and his maternal grandparents. Results: Adults offers young child different discursive ways for helping him to add information, organize and clarify the topic that he is talking about. Conclusions: The results allow to identify different ways that the adults use for helping young child to improve his explanations.

Towards an interface of language and literature. 'Hacia una interfaz de la Lengua y la Literatura'.

Se analiza la conveniencia de usar textos simplificados o en su formato original para propositos pedagógicos dentro de la enseñanza de la segunda lengua. El autor considera que ambas clases de textos (simplificados u originales) pueden formar el nivel intermedio de aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras.

Supporting children with speech and language impairment and associated difficulties : suggestions for supporting the development of language, listening, behavior and co-ordination skills.

Este recurso describe cómo una proporción significativa de niños en edad escolar tienen dificultades en el habla y cómo éstas afectan negativamente en su aprendizaje, tanto en entornos especializados como en generales. En él se esbozan las principales áreas de dificultad para los alumnos, y sugiere cómo los profesores pueden hacer que el programa sea más accesible para facilitar el aprendizaje. Se tratan el lenguaje expresivo, el lenguaje receptivo, el uso social del lenguaje y dificultades en el desarrollo de la coordinación, así como temas específicos como el plan de estudios de inglés, matemáticas y ciencias. A lo largo de la publicación hay información e ideas para apoyar a estos alumnos, y una amplia selección de sugerencias de buenas prácticas. Se incluye un programa de habilidades motoras, rimas para la producción del habla, trabajo de memoria, y páginas fotocopiables de diccionario.

Understanding philosophy of religion AQA.

De acuerdo con las especificaciones de Estudios Religiosos de AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) para los niveles AS y A2, el libro presenta los contenidos sobre filosofía de la religión necesarios para la superación del examen (el argumento cosmológico, experiencia religiosa, psicología y religión, ateísmo y postmodernismo, debates filosóficos sobre los milagros, la creación, religión y ciencia, el argumento del diseño, mecánica cuántica y una visión religiosa del mundo, argumentos ontológicos, lenguaje religioso, vida después de la muerte, el problema del diablo). Al final de cada capítulo se incluyen preguntas de examen para evaluar los conocimientos adquiridos.

Understanding philosophy of religion : AQA teacher's book.

De acuerdo con las especificaciones de Estudios Religiosos de AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) para los niveles AS y A2, el libro presenta material de apoyo e ideas para el desarrollo en clase de los distintos temas en la enseñanza de la religión. Incluye actividades de investigación para los alumnos, preguntas de respuesta corta y preguntas de desarrollo para cada lección, resúmenes de los temas clave y de los términos fundamentales y ejemplos de respuestas a preguntas de exámenes que los alumnos pueden usar como base para su preparación.

Understanding Philosophy of Religion.

De acuerdo con las especificaciones de Estudios Religiosos de AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) para los niveles AS y A2, el libro presenta los contenidos sobre filosofía de la religión necesarios para la superación del examen (el argumento cosmológico, experiencia religiosa, psicología y religión, ateísmo y postmodernismo, debates filosóficos sobre los milagros, la creación, religión y ciencia, mecánica cuántica y una visión religiosa del mundo, argumentos ontológicos, lenguaje religioso, vida después de la muerte, la existencia del diablo) Al final de cada capítulo se incluyen preguntas de examen para evaluar los conocimientos adquiridos.

Understanding Philosophy of Religion.

De acuerdo con las especificaciones de Estudios Religiosos de AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) para los niveles AS y A2, el libro del profesor incluye preguntas de examen sobre filosofía de la religión necesarias para evaluar los conocimientos adquiridos (el argumento cosmológico, experiencia religiosa, psicología y religión, ateísmo y postmodernismo, debates filosóficos sobre los milagros, la creación, religión y ciencia, mecánica cuántica y una visión religiosa del mundo, argumentos ontológicos, lenguaje religioso, vida después de la muerte, la existencia del diablo).

Understanding Philosophy of Religion.

De acuerdo con las especificaciones de Estudios Religiosos de AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) para los niveles AS y A2, el libro presenta los contenidos sobre filosofía de la religión necesarios para la superación del examen (el argumento cosmológico, experiencia religiosa, psicología y religión, ateísmo y postmodernismo, debates filosóficos sobre los milagros, la creación, religión y ciencia, mecánica cuántica y una visión religiosa del mundo, argumentos ontológicos, lenguaje religioso, vida después de la muerte, la existencia del diablo) Al final de cada capítulo se incluyen preguntas de examen para evaluar los conocimientos adquiridos.

Understanding Philosophy of Religion.

De acuerdo con las especificaciones de Estudios Religiosos de AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) para los niveles AS y A2, el libro del profesor incluye preguntas de examen sobre filosofía de la religión necesarias para evaluar los conocimientos adquiridos (el argumento cosmológico, experiencia religiosa, psicología y religión, ateísmo y postmodernismo, debates filosóficos sobre los milagros, la creación, religión y ciencia, mecánica cuántica y una visión religiosa del mundo, argumentos ontológicos, lenguaje religioso, vida después de la muerte, la existencia del diablo).

Are discourse comprehension and cognitive processes influenced by the type of language language (English and Spanish)? A cross-language study based on elaborative inferences generation

Resumen basado en el de la publicación

Usefulness of the Bayley scales of infant and toddler development, third edition, in the early diagnosis of language disorder

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Connectivity of BA46 involvement in the executive control of language

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n