Origins of Human Communication (Bradford Books)

In this groundbreaking book, Michael Tomasello presents a comprehensive account of the evolutionary origins of human communication. Drawing on his extensive research, Tomasello argues that the fundamentally cooperative structure of human communication is the key to understanding its origins.

Key Hypotheses

Tomasello's book, based on his 2006 Jean Nicod Lectures, puts forth several key hypotheses:

The evolution of human communication is best explained by the cooperative motives and social-cognitive skills of our species.

The most important cognitive and motivational prerequisites for human communication emerged during the evolutionary transition to shared intentionality, which occurred sometime after the split between the human and chimpanzee lineages.

The main function of human communication is to share experience and coordinate collaborative activities.

Cooperative Communication

At the heart of Tomasello's theory is the idea that human communication is inherently cooperative. Unlike other species, humans engage in communication with the primary goal of sharing information and coordinating joint activities. This cooperative structure is reflected in the cognitive and motivational skills that underlie human communication, such as the ability to understand others' intentions and the motivation to help others achieve their goals.