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Debunking Misconceptions about the Origins of Language

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Questions and Answers

What is a virtue of language that facilitates extensive social life for individuals unrelated to family?

To undertake individual endeavors
To communicate with other species
To settle agreements
To settle disagreements (correct)

What is a problem with the theory that language is a necessary outcome of evolution?

It does not explain how language evolved
It does not explain the importance of language
It does not explain how language is used
It does not explain why only humans developed language (correct)

Why have other species not developed similar ways of speaking, according to the theory of language as a necessary outcome of evolution?

Because they are not capable of developing language
Because they do not need language for survival (correct)
Because they have not evolved to the same level as humans
Because they do not have the same brain structure as humans

What is the implication of the slow and gradual evolution towards language?

Other species will eventually develop language (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of selection pressure in the evolution of language, from an evolutionary perspective?

It drives the development of language only if it is necessary for survival (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common theme among the misapprehensions about the origins of language?

The evolution of language is not well understood (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument against the theory that language is an outcome of intelligence?

Children and cognitively handicapped individuals can speak despite limited intelligence. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the alternative theory to the idea that language is an outcome of intelligence?

Language emerged before intelligence. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main criticism of the theory that language is a vestige of past evolution?

It does not explain why language is unique to humans. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the argument that language is instrumental in the development of the brain?

Humans have a unique capacity for assigning meaning. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's main argument against the idea that language developed for a precise purpose?

There is no evidence of a specific task that sparked language development. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the underlying assumption of the theory that language is an outcome of intelligence?

Intelligence is a necessary condition for language acquisition. (A) Signup and view all the answers

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