Language evolution seminar

Speaker: Jon Sakata (Department of Biology, McGill University)

Title: Mechanisms underlying universals in vocal communication patterns in songbirds

Abstract: The structure and patterning of many learned behaviors are more similar across populations than expected by chance. Such “universals” in learned behaviors are prevalent not only in humans but also in non-human animals, and interestingly, the structures of some universals are highly conserved across humans and non-human animals. Given the prevalence of such behavioral commonalities, it is important to reveal the mechanisms that contribute to the emergence of shared structures and patterns. My lab is investigating mechanisms underlying universals in learned communicative behaviors in songbirds. In this talk, I will discuss our recent experiments highlighting the contributions of biological predispositions in learning and motor production biases to the emergence of universal patterns in vocal communication in songbirds. In addition, I will highlight the various parallels in universal vocal patterns between humans and songbirds and the potential role of shared sensorimotor processes in generating these common patterns.

Contact

Seminars are organised by the Centre for Language Evolution

Henry Conklin

Centre for Language Evolution