Bio-Linguistic Plasticity and Origin of Language

This chapter is devoted to the application of knowledge on functional and, in particular, evolutionary plasticity, these being two of the most important issues concerning biolinguistics. On the basis of the previous chapter, we have summarized a scheme consisting of four levels of evolutionary innovation processes: (1) the level of the “mechanical trigger" of innovation; (2) the level of performative innovation compatibility in the context of evolutionary development of the structure; (3) the level of natural selection within population genetics; (4) the level of adaptation and cultural selection. These four levels are considered in subsections on the origin of language, the development of historical-natural languages, language selection, the mechanisms of adaptation/maladaptation of cultural products and possible (but not certain) developmental outcomes. © Springer International Publishing AG 2016.