Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - 2008 - Volume 31, Issue 05  

Open Peer Commentary

Convergent cultural evolution may explain linguistic universals

Christine A. Caldwella1

a1 Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom c.a.caldwell@stir.ac.uk http://www.psychology.stir.ac.uk/staff/ccaldwell/index.php

Abstract

Christiansen & Chater's (C&C's) argument rests on an assumption that convergent cultural evolution can produce similar (complex) behaviours in isolated populations. In this commentary, I describe how experiments recently carried out by Caldwell and colleagues can contribute to the understanding of such phenomena.

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