Language evolution and robotics: Issues on symbol grounding and language acquisition

One of the key aspects that distinguishes humans from other species is that humans use a complex communication system that is among other things symbolic, learnt, compositional and recursive, whereas all other species’ communication systems typically lack these properties. It is often thought that this unique human feature is the key to understanding the nature (and nurture!) of human cognition. In order to understand the foundations of this distinction between humans and other species, scientists study the origins and evolution of language.