Intelligence Evolution by Language

How has language influenced the evolution of intelligence in humans?

As I described in my last post; “Labelling Language”, language seems to have a big influence on effectivity of an individual making an accurate estimate of their situation, when combined with conscious thought. Language, being basically a labelling system, enables shortcuts in memory, allowing a faster and more distinct connection to memories, when an individual is consciously analysing the relation of relative factors, in any given scenario. A labelling system can also allow the same concept of; shortcut reference to factors, for communication between multiple individuals.

This added ability of communication, can benefit species which use either conscious or subconscious brain function. But, what are the implications of this ability, regarding the progression and development of specifically; conscious brain function?

Considering natural selection, the 1st individual would likely be born with a minimal adjustment of mind function, of the ability to access additional memories, before reacting, in any given situation (based on my understanding of these concepts). This minimal adjustment would benefit them (relative to their environment) in reacting to situations, so that they would be more likely to survive, and pass on those genes. Their offspring would then also be born with the beneficial ability, and be more likely to survive, by using additional memory access to factors involved in any scenario, and therein having a more accurate reaction.

With this adjustment of brain function, abilitized for multiple specimens within a group, they would have the ability to access more accurate memories of labels of language, and apply this benefit of communication, by slowly increasing the # of labels within their own language. For eg, the 1st few chimps with this minimal adjustment to brain function, may become capable to distinguish an additional specificity of sound of call, between each other, which refers to the warning of a leopard, rather than an eagle (which sometimes hunt baby chimps), instead of 1 basic sound labelled for either predator. This additional brain function could allow the additional label of language, benefitting the group, so that they can react more accurately to the scenario of specifically, either a leopard or eagle. The group with this evolutionary adaptation, could slowly increase labels of language, to benefit the group with more accurate reactions.

Additionally, eventually, individuals within the group, would have the benefit of the shortcut link in memories, created by labels of language, to access memories more quickly and distinctly, in scenarios, which do not involve communication from 1 specimen to another. When an individual is reacting to any given situation on their own, they could have the ability to access memories of additional factors (relevant to the situation), quicker, through the link saved in memory of the sound (or sight of body language), which is the label applied to that factor. This additional ability to have a more accurate reaction, to situations on their own, would benefit them to be more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on the most beneficial brain function genes involved.

These beneficial brain function abilities, would slowly increase and spread through the group, as natural selection causes. More and more labels could be applied to more and more factors in their environment, which would allow the group to more effectively survive, and additionally allow more accurate reactions for individuals, through more and more accurate memory links, associated with these labels. This process of improvement in reaction method, could continue to slowly increase until the development of modern day humans brain function.

The ability of labelling language, seems to have potentially had a profound impact on the development of human intelligence. With additional labels for communication between specimens, comes the benefit of more accurate reactions to scenarios, for the group of specimens. With these additional labels, also comes the benefit of more accurate reactions to scenarios for any individual, through more effective memory association with said labels. For the development of reaction method of intelligence and conscious thought, a labelling system seems quite significant.