Since language is a biological trait, it is necessary to investigate its evolution, development,
and functions, along with the mechanisms that have been set aside, and are now recruited,
for its acquisition and use. It is argued here that progress toward each of these goals can be
facilitated by new programs of research, carried out within a new theoretical framework—
one that could be called “evolutionary developmental linguistics”(EDL)—respecting current
developments in biology, anthropology, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. EDL is�…