Human Self-Domestication and the Evolution of Pragmatics

Abstract

As proposed for the emergence of modern languages, we argue that modern uses of languages (prag-matics) also evolved gradually in our species under the effects of human self-domestication, with threekey aspects involved in a complex feedback loop: (a) a reduction in reactive aggression, (b) the sophisti-cation of language structure (with emerging grammars initially facilitating the transition from physicalaggression to verbal aggression); and (c) the potentiation of pragmatic principles governing conversa-tion, including, but not limited to, turn-taking and inferential abilities. Our core hypothesis is that thereduction in reactive aggression, one of the key factors in self-domestication processes, enabled us tofully exploit our cognitive and interactional potential as applied to linguistic exchanges, and ultimatelyto evolve a specific form of communication governed by persuasive reciprocity—a trait of humanconversation characterized by both competition and cooperation. In turn, both early crude forms oflanguage, well suited for verbal aggression/insult, and later more sophisticated forms of language, wellsuited for persuasive reciprocity, significantly contributed to the resolution and reduction of (physical)aggression, thus having a return effect on the self-domestication processes. Supporting evidence forour proposal, as well as grounds for further testing, comes mainly from the consideration of cognitivedisorders, which typically simultaneously present abnormal features of self-domestication (includingaggressive behavior) and problems with pragmatics and social functioning. While various approachesto language evolution typically reduce it to a single factor, our approach considers language evolutionas a multifactorial process, with each player acting upon the other, engaging in an intense mutually reinforcing feedback loop. Moreover, we see language evolution as a gradual process, continuous withthe pre-linguistic cognitive abilities, which were engaged in a positive feedback loop with linguisticinnovations, and where gene-culture co-evolution and cultural niche construction were the main drivingforces.