![Page 1: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Origins of Human Communication
Michael Tomasello
Max Planck Institute forEvolutionary Anthropology
Leipzig, Germany
![Page 2: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Three Facts
1. Linguistic communication has manycomponent skills.
2. Evolution often makes “new machines out ofold parts”.
3. Not one language, but 6,000: so bothbiological & cultural evolution.
![Page 3: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Three Steps
0. Collaborative Activities
1. Pragmatic infrastructure: natural gestures
2. Communicative conventions
3. Grammaticalization of constructions
![Page 4: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Warneken & Tomasello (2006)
![Page 5: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
No shared goal!
![Page 6: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
![Page 7: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
I. Pragmatic Infrastructure
Human Cooperative Comm.
1. Motives: informing
2. Structure: common ground
3. Intentional Structure: Gricean
communicative intentions &
cooperative inferences
![Page 8: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
- natural basis of the pointing gesture is gaze following
- then: I intentionally gaze to something to make you follow
![Page 9: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Infants on a desert island
only vocalize only gesture
![Page 10: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
-- Dan is already at the library.
-- There’s your stolen bicycle.
-- The library’s still open.
Why does she think thatlooking over there will beinteresting or useful for me?
Not enough that we eachknow privately that this isDan’s bike => shared CG.
![Page 11: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Attested Examples of Infant Pointing
Example 14: At age 11.5 months, J points to the door as Dad is making preparations to leave. GLOSS: Attend to the door; Dad's
going out of it soon.
Example 15: At age 11.5 months, as Mom is pouring water in glasses at the dinner table, J points to his empty glass to request that
she pour him some. GLOSS: Attend to my empty glass; fill it up too.
Example 17: At age 13 months, J watches as Dad arranges the Christmas tree; when Grandpa enters the room J points to tree for
him and vocalizes. GLOSS: Attend to the Christmas tree; isn't it great?.
Example 18: At age 13.5 months, after finishing eating, L points to the bathroom in anticipation of going to wash her hands.
GLOSS: Attend to the bathroom; it's time to go there.
Example 19: At age 13.5 months, Mom is looking for a missing refrigerator magnet, and L points to a basket of fruit where it is
(hidden under the fruit). GLOSS: Attend to the basket of fruit; it's there.
Example 20: At just under 14 months, two different children, J and L, have noisy accidents out of sight of the parent; when the
parent comes to investigate, the infant points to the offending object (i.e., the thing he bumped his head on, or the thing that fell
down). GLOSS: Attend to that object; it hurt me.
![Page 12: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Behne et al. (2005) Developmental Science.
Comprehension: Common Ground
![Page 13: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
[Call & Tomasello, 2005, review]
![Page 14: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
E1 points
Common Ground
E2 points
No Common Ground
Liebal et al. (2008, Study 1). Developmental Science. 14 month olds
Common Ground: Social Intention
E1
E1
![Page 15: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
“so what?”
APE GOAL:
I FIND X
Helper -
cooperative
Searcher
SHARED GOAL:
C FIND X
“for me”
“relevant”
![Page 16: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
![Page 17: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Call & Tomasello (2007) book.
Attention Getter
![Page 18: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
![Page 19: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Bullinger et al. (in press). Developmental Science.
*
Selfish – Helpful Apes: P < 0.001.
*
![Page 20: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Liszkowski et al. (2008). Psychological Science.
12-month-olds: Absent Objects
Chimps = only to hidden object’s known location!
If common groundstrong enough
![Page 21: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Liebal et al. In press. J. of Child Language
Marked pointing must have special meaning.
3 year olds
![Page 22: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
II. Communicative Conventions
“Drift to arbitrary”
• Iconicity of gestural expression for
those w/ shared experience
• Learners don’t know iconicity- imitation of form’s inferred function => convention
![Page 23: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Symbolic communication[Behne et al., ongoing]
![Page 24: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
![Page 25: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
W/ same speaker; NOT w/ different speaker!
Matthews et al. (in press): convention as part of common ground
![Page 26: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
First Language (& pointing): Why one year?
“In the end, nobody knows why word learning starts at 12 months
and not at six months or three years” P. Bloom, 2000, p. 45.
“I do”
Ability to participate inJOINT ATTENTION/COMMON GROUND
![Page 27: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Joint Attention and Earliest Language
• Comprehension R2 = .50 to .60
• Production R2 = .50 to .60
Carpenter et al. (1998) SRCD Monographs.
![Page 28: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Rakoczy, Warneken, & Tomasello (2008) Developmental Psychology
conventional = normative
![Page 29: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
III. Grammaticalization ofConstructions
• Step 1 is reducing expression of
something that is “given” [shared, predicted
to be predictable] in context
• Learners have difficulty reconstructing
full expression => re-analysis
![Page 30: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Shared Attention (given-new)Moll et al. (2006) Cognition &Development. 14 mo olds.
Drum previously shared!
![Page 31: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
location
object/theme
Prelinguistic Infants: Shared & New in Pointing[Tomasello et al., 2007, Child Development.]
![Page 32: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Pragmatic Dimensions of GrammarBeyond Event-Participant Structure
Why don’t we just say John broke the window?
• Referential choice “for” listener– NPs: Fred, he, my new neighbor, the guy who ….., etc.
– VPs: is breaking, broke, was breaking, will have broken, etc.
• Info. Structure “for” listener [topic-comment]– Fred broke the window.
– The window was broken.
– It was Fred who broke the window.
– The window broke.
– It was the window that got broken.
– Etc.
• Marking roles “for” listener
word order
stress
construction
Listener knowledge
interests
expectations
![Page 33: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
'FLOWER there(point)'
TOOTHBRUSH gimme(beg gesture)
BALL GOOD
GUM HURRY
CHASE you (point)
Washoe et al. and Kanzi
Kind of:
Event-participant
organization
• Almost all directives!
• No informing [what’s new?]
• No declarative sharing
![Page 34: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Pragmatic Dimensions of GrammarWhat “linguistic” apes do not do:
• The do not mark roles “for” listener
• No referential choice “for” listener– NPs: Fred, he, my new neighbor, the guy who ….., etc.
– VPs: is breaking, broke, was breaking, will have broken, etc.
• No Info. Structure “for” listener [topic-comment]– Fred broke the window.
– The window was broken.
– It was Fred who broke the window.
– The window broke.
– It was the window that got broken.
– Etc.
No pragmatic dimensions of syntax b/c:
no listener design [based on shared-new]
![Page 35: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
yes
yes
yes (w/ lang.)
no
no
no
Pragmatics:- shared-new
- coop. motives
- conventions
yesyes
“Syntax”:distribution learn. +
analogy/categorize
yesyes
Semantics:events & roles
conceptualized
ApesPrelinguistic
Infants
![Page 36: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
Percept
Action
Goal
Call & Tomasello (2008)Call & Tomasello (2008)
Competition!
![Page 37: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
JOINT GOAL
Role x Role y
Perspective x Perspective y
Joint Plan/
Intentions
joint
attention
Collaborative Activities
![Page 38: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Follow head - evenwhen eyes closed
Follow eyes - evenwhen head stationary
Tomasello et al. (2006). J. of Human Evolution.
Morphology for Cooperation
![Page 39: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
Passive:
Take -Allow
Take-Allow
Take-Allow
.
.
.
Mother-Child Food Sharing
![Page 40: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
M: Offer
C: Accept Offer
M: Question
C: Comment/Inform
C: Request
M: Comment
C: Comment
M: Request C Offer
C: Comply Offer
C: Spontaneous
Offer
![Page 41: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
• Collaborative activities as pre-existing socialcontexts: coordination problems
• Natural gestures as a solution: pragmaticinfrastructure => fundamentally cooperative
• Conventional symbols & constructions asmuch more powerful means of communicationin larger communities with in-group strangers
Conclusion
![Page 42: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
![Page 43: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
Conclusion
• Natural gestures as a necessary “way station” onthe path to modern languages
• Linguistic conventions are only possible if thispre-existing, shared intentionality infrastructureis already in place
![Page 44: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
direct your
attention to it
stand on
headRef. goal
ostensive
point
secret
buzzer
Comm.behavior
Get Apple
fetch itget you to
fetch it
Indiv. goal
Social goal
INTENTIONS
![Page 45: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
Communicativebehavior
Referentialgoal
Socialgoal
She sticking her fingerout in that direction for me.Why?
To direct my attention to the apple.Why?
To get me to fetch it for her.
INFERENCES
Individualgoal
So she can steal my seat when I leave.Why?Why?…….
Why?
![Page 46: Michael Tomasello - UQAM · Michael Tomasello Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany. Three Facts 1.Linguistic communication has many component skills](https://reader033.vdocuments.site/reader033/viewer/2022041618/5e3cd27646f233008b69bdf7/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
Human Collaborative Activities[Shared Intentionality]
• Joint goal => commitment
• Coordinated roles (communication)
• Cooperative motivation
• Social Norms