Language Evolution & Animal Communication

Overview:

In order to understand how language might make an 'anthropological difference', i.e. how it might be what makes us human and distinguishes us from other animals, it is firstly necessary to clarify what we mean by "language". Secondly, the differences between human language and animal communication systems must be examined, as must the evolution of our species as an animal with a particular need to communicate. What have been the cognitive and social consequences of such developments? In the light of recent technological developments, the question of the language capabilities of machines is also increasingly coming into focus.

Prof. Dr. phil. Nikola Kompa

Prof. Dr. phil. Nikola Kompa

Albrechtstraße 28a
49076 Osnabrück

Room: 69/107
Phone: +49 541 969-7109
nikola.kompa@uni-osnabrueck.de

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Publications:

  • Kompa, N. (forthcoming). "The difference language makes." In: Neil Roughley (ed.). Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy of Human Nature. Routledge, London & New York.
  • Kompa, N. (2025) "Can ChatGPT actually speak?" Blog post:  https://praefaktisch.de/ki/kann-chatgpt-tatsaechlich-sprechen/
  • Kompa, N. (2019). "On the Coevolution of Language and Cognition: Gricean Intentions meet Lewisean Conventions." In R. Loukanova (ed.), Logic and Algorithms in Computational Linguistics 2018 (LACompLing2018). Springer Nature, Cham CH, 177-205. (in print 2020) -  LINK (open access)
  • Kompa, N. (2019). "Language Evolution and Linguistic Norms". In N. Roughley/K. Bayertz (eds.), The Normative Animal? On the Anthropological Significance of Social, Moral, and Linguistic Norms. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 245-264.