Open AccessPhi-Features in Animal Cognition
Author(s) -
Chris Golston
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
biolinguistics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1450-3417
DOI - 10.5964/bioling.9131
Subject(s) - animal cognition , cognition , semantics (computer science) , cognitive science , core (optical fiber) , psychology , communication , cognitive psychology , biology , computer science , neuroscience , programming language , telecommunications
This paper argues that the core phi-features behind grammatical person, number, and gender are widely used in animal cognition and are in no way limited to humans or to communication. Based on this, it is hypothesized (i) that the semantics behind phi-features were fixed long before primates evolved, (ii) that most go back as far as far as vertebrates, and (iii) that some are shared with insects and plants.