Convergent cultural evolution may explain linguistic universals

Citation

Caldwell CA (2008) Convergent cultural evolution may explain linguistic universals. Commentary on: MH Christiansen and N Chater, 'Language as shaped by the brain', Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2008) 31, pp.489-509. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 31 (5), pp. 515-516. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X08005050

Abstract
Christiansen & Chater's (C&C's) argument rests on an assumption that convergent cultural evolution can produce similar (complex) behaviours in isolated populations. In this commentary, I describe how experiments recently carried out by Caldwell and colleagues can contribute to the understanding of such phenomena.

Keywords
ARGUMENT; Behaviour; commentary; COMPLEX; cultural; evolution; experiment; EXPERIMENTS; Population; POPULATIONS; understanding

Journal
Behavioral and Brain Sciences: Volume 31, Issue 5