Darwin e il dibattito linguistico coevo

This paper focuses on the chapter on language included in "The Descent of Man" , in connection with Darwin's general ideas on the evolution of mental powers, both in Human beings and other animals. The relationships of Darwin's linguistic perspective with the contemporary debate, in Great Britain and elsewhere, are investigated. His indebteness to (but also his authonomy from) linguists of his days, upholding the 'natural' origins of language (Farrar, Wedgwood) are discussed. It is argued that Darwin carely picked up suggestions from the extant linguistic (but also ethnological as well as zoological) literature that provided arguments for his evolutionary approach, In so doing, Darwin was able to rethink language according a genuine continuism that challenged the linguistic and religious opinions of the Victorian Age.

Le idee darwiniane sul linguaggio nel quadro dei dibattiti filosofico- e antropologico-linguistici del suo tempo