No Gods and precious few heroes: SFL and evolutionary linguistics

Bartlett, T. (2021) No Gods and precious few heroes: SFL and evolutionary linguistics. Lingua, 261, 102953. (doi: 10.1016/j.lingua.2020.102953)

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Abstract

In this paper I consider the concept of linguistic dynamism from a materialist and evolutionary perspective. The paper begins with a description of the evolved human traits that account for the variability of response within specific contexts and the degree to which such variability is effective in safeguarding the integrity of the system while allowing for emergence and uptake of adaptive behaviour. From here, the paper draws on the architecture of Systemic Functional Linguistics and the recursive mechanisms of redundancy and articulation to outline how this evolved variability of response can account for the emergence of: (i) higher orders of extension and abstraction in the language system; and (ii) an increase in the meaning potential of the system at each level of abstraction. These two processes are seen as naturally occurring and mutually reinforcing and hence as the beginnings of a materialist account of creativity in language.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bartlett, Professor Tom
Authors: Bartlett, T.
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Language and Linguistics
Journal Name:Lingua
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0024-3841
ISSN (Online):1872-6135
Published Online:07 November 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V.
First Published:First published in Lingua 261:102953
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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