From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds

by Daniel C. Dennett

early days of human language,

I often under estimate the sophistication of "primative" peoples. Unspoken communication can be extremely complex and nuanced. I can picture language developing as teens thousands of years ago sought to distance themselves from parents/elders..

“Contact between adults speaking different languages

Southwest indigenous peoples were often in contact with neighbors who spoke very different languages yet very similar cultures. Languages were so different that they could not understand each other.

adults to presume much more understanding in their children’s early utterances than the children actually have,

Comprehension makes leaps as children achieve developmental levels.