Humans 40,000 y ago developed a system of conventional signs
3. Comparing Visual vs. Spoken Language (Psychology/Linguistics) Humans 40,000 y ago developed a system of
: It explains why a word or image isn't just a thing—it's a tool for meaning that relies entirely on the observer's mind. You can explore a breakdown of his theories at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy . 2. The Evolution of Human Communication (Archaeology) You can explore a breakdown of his theories
: This paper analyzes prehistoric cave markings across Europe. Instead of just looking at animal drawings, researchers focused on geometric "signs"—dots, lines, and triangles—that appear repeatedly across different caves. Instead of just looking at animal drawings, researchers
: This paper compares American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) with spoken English and Spanish. It investigates iconicity —how much a "sign" (word or gesture) physically resembles what it means (e.g., the sign for "drink" looking like drinking from a cup).
: It suggests that early humans had a shared, intentional system of graphic communication long before formal writing systems like cuneiform existed. You can read the full study at PNAS .