1. The Biology of Language

2. Genes and Language Fox P2 Gene (Forkhead Box Protein P2)
Located on Chromosome 7
Central in the development of the brain, heart, lungs and gut
Does not directly affect language
Regulates other genes
Eg. CNTNAP2 associated with autism language deficiency
Other animals have a form of FOX P2
Chimpanzees differ in 2 of 740 units of the gene
Mice differ in 3 of 740 units
Finches differ in 7 of 740 units
Mutations in experimental mice show differences in vocalizations in those with a mutated FOX P2
Associated with song in birds, pattern learning in mice, and echo-location in bat
FOX P2 appears more active in females than in males

3. The KE Family
Association with language discovered in a single family in Britain, the KE family
15 members of extended family with “dyspraxia” –half with the same mutation of FOX P2

4. ASPM and Microcephalin (MCPH1)
Genes and Language
ASPM and Microcephalin (MCPH1)
Both are involved in brain development and brain structure.
Two versions that vary together of each of these genes in contemporary human populations
One variation pair appears to be older than the other.
The newer version of ASPM is traced back to 5800 years ago.
The newer version of Microcephalin is traced back to 37,000 years ago.
(Dan Dediu and Robert Ladd of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2007)

5. Tonal Language Example
Mandarin Tone Use
Word Intonation Meaning
ba [/] to uproot
ba [--] eight
ba [\/] to hold
ba [\] a harrow

6. When did language first appear in humans?
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7. The Hyoid Bone
Anchors the tongue through several muscles attached to bones in the mandible and
The location of the hyoid bone allows the kind of movement of the tongue that allows the production of consonants in human language

8. Homo sapiens neanderthalensis
Genetic analysis of Neanderthal bone shows the presence of the FOX P2 gene in its modern human form. 350,000 years ago Fossil evidence of a fully human hyoid bone from 300,000 years ago at Kebara Cave in Israel.

9. Why Language?

10. Why Language?

11. Why Language?

12. Powerpoint Study Guide
FOXP2 Gene
ASPM Gene
Microcephalin Gene
Tonal Languages
Hyoid Bone
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis
Social bonding
Grooming
Vocal grooming