Mehrsprachigkeit in Europa: Plurilinguismo in Europa ... - EURAC

K. Simitopoulou-Kotzamani, N. I. Xirotiris
under a broad holistic approach, the term co-evolution refers to the simultaneous evolution
of both natural and cultural traits, mutually infl uencing each other, as humankind proceeds
through time.
Several general ideas about evolution concern all living creatures, including humans:
• Evolution concerns totals of populations rather than individuals;
• Variability within and between populations is a fruitful substrate for evolution;
• Selection functions upon several alternative genotypes, among which only those with the
best fi tness in the particular environments are sustainable.
• Evolution (at population level) can be described as a change of the gene pool content,
expressed as alternation of gene frequencies through time;
• The changes observed at a certain moment are the collective result of the dynamic
interaction of evolutionary forces (mutation, migration, random genetic drift and natural
selection);
• Any living population is de facto evolutionary successful, since it has responded positively
to its environmental challenges, being able to produce and sustain potentially fertile offsprings.
Through this long lasting dynamic process the human creatures developed a powerful brain,
thus becoming homos sapiens, able to think and communicate through symbols, an ability
which, among others, was fundamental for the development of language. The physiological and
mental genetic predisposition of humans to use language(s), led to the development of advanced
intercommunication codes. This unique qualifi cation was crucial for the gradual transition of
human population groups from herds to tribes, to societies, up to today’s cyber-society.
Although there is no way to distinguish sharply when and how this evolutionary “upgrade”
has happened, it is undeniable that language offered a great evolutionary advantage towards
the creation of collective culture, in favour of the populations’ survival.
Culture is derived in human populations, it is heritable at group level, it is variable according
to its (natural and cultural) hosting ecosystems, it evolves. Actually the evolution of cultural
traits in human populations cannot be viewed separately from their biological basis and their
natural environments. Only those who survived and reproduced themselves in their ecosystems,
those with the best fi tness to their natural environments, were able to promote their cultures
(language, believes, traditions etc.)
Vice versa, a process of cultural selection also operates. Frequencies of cultural traits and
attitudes can change through time, responding to the challenges of the contemporary cultural
environment. This affects the mating systems and reproductive choices, gradually leading to
the alternation of the gene pool (or the biological profi le) of a population. As culture evolves, it
feeds back biological evolution, actually modifying the biological structure of the population.
Consequently, co-evolution, i.e. the continuous interaction of biological and environmental
(including cultural) factors through time is recognised as the driving force of unlimited brain
development, which, in turn, crucially infl uences endless environmental transformation.
According to Steven Pinker
“Nature and Nurture are not alternatives. Learning itself must be accomplished by innate
circuitry, and what is inert is not a set of rigid instructions for the behaviour but rather
programmes that take the information from the senses and give rise to new thoughts and
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