The Evolution of Communication

Part 1 Synopsis of the argument: some background information – communication and information, the comparative method – which species to compare and what to conclude?. Part 2 The evolution of communication – historical overview – the design of natural communication systems language evolution – linguists take a look – uniqueness, Noam Chomsky, Derek Bickerton, Philip Lieberman, Charles Hockett, Steven Pinker language evolution – biologists take a look – general comments, Peter Marler, W. John Smith synthesis. Part 3 Conceptual issues in the study of communication: signals designed for a complex environment – the ecology of signal transmission, the ecology of signal detection, adaptation and signal design problems of similarity and classification – the concept of similarity, similarity and classification, units of analysis and their classification in communication potential fruits of Tinbergen’s research design. Part 4 Biological design and communication: mating signals – frogs and birds – anuran advertisement calls, avian song survival signals – bats – bat echolocation – the problem social signals – nonhuman and human primates – nonhuman primate vocalisations – general, human language, facial expression and perception in primates. Part 5 Genetic design and communication: mating signals – birds – avian song survival signals – squirrels and primates – ground squirrel alarms, vervet monkey alarm calls social signals – primates – nonhuman primate vocalisations, human spoken language, human sign language, facial and gestural expressions in primates. Part 6 Design and communication: mating signals – frogs, birds, and primates – anuran advertisement calls,, avian advertisement signals, primate copulation calls and sexual swellings survival signals – insects, birds, squirrels, and primates – alarm signals, warning colours, food-associated signals social signals – birds and primates – dominance signals and cues. (Part contents).