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The role of vocalization, memory retrieval, and external symbols in cognitive evolution

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Commentary onDonaldMerlin (1993) Précis of Origins of the modern mind: Three stages in the evolution of culture and cognition. BBS 16: 737–791

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Merlin Donald
Merlin Donald
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, CanadaK7L 3N6. [email protected]
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Abstract

The human vocal apparatus is part of a vertically integrated system, and I agree with Licbennan that modern high-speed phonology co-evolved with our capacity for grammar. Olson and I agree that some distinctly human thought skills appear to be fairly recent cultural acquisitions related to the introduction of new symbolic technologies and external (that is, nonbiological) memory storage. Stenning's concern with my use of the term “episodic” can be resolved by distinguishing between episodic storage and retrieval. Baum's suggestions regarding courtship and cognitive evolution seem to apply better to mimetic expression than to language.

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Author's Response
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , March 1996 , pp. 159 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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