Event

Language and Cognitive Science

Sunday, October 14th, 2001, 1:30 PM - 2:50 PM

Speaker: Dean Williams

How did language evolve in the human species? Why do humans have a complex symbolic communication system that other species appear not to possess? What is the neurological correlate of language; how do mere neurons and synapses combine, communicate, and interact to create linguistic meaning? Advances in cognitive science, neurology, paleontology, and neurolinguistics are drawing back the curtain that has veiled the inner workings of the human brain. Psychological, symbolic-mathematical, or social theories of language are insufficient; they do not adequately address the indisputably biological nature of our species' linguistic ability. This presentation will attempt to draw together the strands of evolution, brain science, and linguistics to portray at least in a rough way how nature might have formed language in the human animal.
(This is followed by a second presentation by Marie Nelson)

Organization: Kobe Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (Kobe JALT)

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: 500 yen (for both of today's presentations)

Venue: Kobe YMCA 4F LETS (between JR Sannomiya and JR Shin-Kobe)

Location: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

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