Reflections on Darwin’s natural selection
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Marlyse Baptista
Abstract
In this chapter, I adopt Mufwene's (2001, 2008) concepts of feature pool and feature selection and competition and compare it to Darwin's theory of natural selection (Darwin 1859). Such a comparison brings to light both the descriptive and explanatory adequacy of Mufwene’s theoretical framework, showing how his work has undoubtedly furthered our understanding of language emergence and development. I will examine more specifically how, given Mufwene's biological model of language evolution, variation and diversity can be seen as key factors driving feature competition and selection, ultimately leading to language change. I propose that the ways in which linguistic features emerge, coexist, compete and get selected can find parallels in processes of natural selection in nature.
Abstract
In this chapter, I adopt Mufwene's (2001, 2008) concepts of feature pool and feature selection and competition and compare it to Darwin's theory of natural selection (Darwin 1859). Such a comparison brings to light both the descriptive and explanatory adequacy of Mufwene’s theoretical framework, showing how his work has undoubtedly furthered our understanding of language emergence and development. I will examine more specifically how, given Mufwene's biological model of language evolution, variation and diversity can be seen as key factors driving feature competition and selection, ultimately leading to language change. I propose that the ways in which linguistic features emerge, coexist, compete and get selected can find parallels in processes of natural selection in nature.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Acronyms and glosses ix
- Portrait of Salikoko S. Mufwene xiv
- Introduction 1
- A sociolinguistic typology for languages in contact 23
- A local history of Tok Pisin 57
- Conventionalized creativity in the emergence of a mixed language – A case study of Light Warlpiri 81
- Acquisition or shift? 105
- Substrate influence in Northern Quechua languages 133
- Coordination in the Suriname Creoles 161
- Reflections on Darwin’s natural selection 191
- Building grammar in the early stages of development of French Creoles 211
- Foundings and futures 243
- Detecting loan words computationally 269
- Learnability and ecological factors as motivators of language change 289
- The restructuring of Salikoko Mufwene through competition and selection 307
- Language Index 327
- Subject Index 329
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Acronyms and glosses ix
- Portrait of Salikoko S. Mufwene xiv
- Introduction 1
- A sociolinguistic typology for languages in contact 23
- A local history of Tok Pisin 57
- Conventionalized creativity in the emergence of a mixed language – A case study of Light Warlpiri 81
- Acquisition or shift? 105
- Substrate influence in Northern Quechua languages 133
- Coordination in the Suriname Creoles 161
- Reflections on Darwin’s natural selection 191
- Building grammar in the early stages of development of French Creoles 211
- Foundings and futures 243
- Detecting loan words computationally 269
- Learnability and ecological factors as motivators of language change 289
- The restructuring of Salikoko Mufwene through competition and selection 307
- Language Index 327
- Subject Index 329
