Evolutionary Psychology (the podcast) Language and Communication with Thom Scott-Phillips
Sep 9, 2025
Thom Scott-Phillips, an expert in the evolution of communication and language, takes us on a fascinating journey through the nuances of human interaction. He explores if language itself is an adaptation and discusses the complexities of ostensive communication. The conversation dives into the intersection of art, language, and social dynamics, revealing how these fields influence our understanding of one another. Plus, Thom shares his passion for the lindy hop, drawing connections between dance and cultural expression.
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Ostensive Communication Is Distinct
- Human communication is a distinct mode called ostensive communication that expresses and recognizes mental states.
- It's not mere encoding/decoding like a computer; it relies on intention-reading and inference.
Sparse Signals Trigger Big Inference
- Communicative signals are often sparse yet trigger rich inferential processes using context and theory of mind.
- Minimal utterances activate layered mental-state attributions that make meaning possible.
Grammar As Convention, Not Fixed Hardware
- Grammar can be viewed as cultural conventions (constructions) mapping form to function rather than innate syntactic hardware.
- Downstream biological changes likely tuned memory, timing, and motor control to support vast learned constructions.
