Description: In this assignment you will consider what function language serves in human society, and why language might have evolved. This issue of why language
evolved isnâ?t as easy as it appears. The advantage language might provide is not evident in many common contexts. â?¢ Human “small talk,” e.g.
discussion about the weather, queries about health seems to many specialists to be the equivalent of chimp grooming: it demonstrates concern and
interest, but it provides little or no real information. â?¢ A warning shout works almost as well as a spoken warning. â?¢ A pointing hand works as well as
words for warning of nearby dangers or resources. Language, therefore, probably didn’t evolve for these things, since chimps can do them without
speaking. Some things for which spoken language has been speculated to have evolved include tattling, making explicit agreements, planning for the
future, discussing the past to help make important decisions, manipulating others through lying or misrepresentation, and discussing religion or other
profound subjects. You can probably think of others. For this assignment you will try to analyze the function of language. Your â?dataâ? may be collected in
either of two ways: 1. Briefly note of the subject of your conversations in the course of a day. 2. Alternatively, record your and your friends in relaxed
social conversation (with their permission, of course) for an hour. Once you have your data, see if you can divide your discussions into two categories: a.
Possible for chimps: conversations that do no more than convey social interest. b. Not possible: discussions involving displacement. As a way of getting
started with your assignment, estimate the proportion of time do you spend in each. In order for language to have evolved, individuals who had better
language skills must have reproduced faster, or lived longer than individuals without language skills. Speculate on what advantage language gave you for
the period of your data collection, versus remaining silent. Drawing on what you know about chimpanzee communication, and on what youâ?ve learned
about the distinctive characteristics of human language, and on what you know about evolution, speculate on why language evolved. **Do not exceed
1,000 words in your report**

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