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Paul W. Dixon

The evolution of human language and the genetic code: An endosemiotic analysis

An analogy is drawn between the processes of human language evolution and the ongoing discoveries concerning how the human genome is constructed. Mutational evolution may be thought of in linguistic terms as an alternation in the genetic code following morphemic (meaningful) substitutions, deletions or additions. This may be termed an endosemiotic analysis where semiotic processes may be found at the biochemical level of the genome. Hence, owing to these genetic changes, phenotypic alterations in the morphology of the organism create those evolutionary changes seen in the development of the phyla in the paleontological record. We are now witnessing the inclusion of the genome of all species both plant and animal within our material culture as we begin to modify these genotypes with recombinant DNA/RNA technology. The coevolution of language and the genetic code may then occur as we begin to more thoroughly understand these interrelated evolutionary processes.

Semiotica, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 0037-1998
Volume: 2005, 04/2005
Pages: 265 - 272

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