ISSUES AND NONISSUES IN THE ORIGINS OF LANGUAGE - AUTHORS RESPONSE

This response clarifies the nature of reappropriation and the definiti on of language. It explicates the relationship between neural systems and language and between homology and evolutionary gradualism. Through a review of ape capacities in the realms of language and tool use, it distinguishes human language acquisition from nonhuman learning. Fina lly, it suggests the appropriate sorts of evidence on which to base fu rther evolutionary arguments relevant to the origins of language.