title: The origins of language in teaching.
abstract: I introduce seven criteria for determining the validity of competing theories for the original function of language. I go on to present a novel explanation that meets all the criteria: language originally evolved to teach kin. I suggest that the use of symbols subsequently generated evolutionary feedback at two levels, in the form of self-modified selection pressures that favored structures in the mind that functioned to manipulate and use symbols with efficiency, and cultural selection on languages for learnability.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, Scotland, UK. knl1@st-andrews.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kevin N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Laland
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007858:Learning
keywords: Evolution; Language; Teaching