so evolution has had free reign to use language sophistication as a proxy for humanity and intelligence
my point is, evolution doesn’t need to be involved in this paradigm. it could just be something children learn - this thing talks and is therefore more interactive than this other thing that doesn’t talk.
Additionally, at the time in pre-history when assessing the intelligence of something could determine your life or death and thereby ability to reproduce, language may not have been a great indicator of intelligence. For example, if you encounter a band of whatever hominid encroaching on your territory, there may not be a lot of talking. You would know they were intelligent because they might have clothing or tools, but it’s likely nothing would be said before the spears started to be thrown.
my point is, evolution doesn’t need to be involved in this paradigm. it could just be something children learn - this thing talks and is therefore more interactive than this other thing that doesn’t talk.
Additionally, at the time in pre-history when assessing the intelligence of something could determine your life or death and thereby ability to reproduce, language may not have been a great indicator of intelligence. For example, if you encounter a band of whatever hominid encroaching on your territory, there may not be a lot of talking. You would know they were intelligent because they might have clothing or tools, but it’s likely nothing would be said before the spears started to be thrown.