Abstract

This paper contributes to the field of evolutionary pragmatics by proposing a hearer-oriented approach to the evolution of human communication. Traditionally, the evolution of human communication has been viewed from a speaker-oriented perspective that emphasizes the role of signalers in developing Gricean ostensive-inferential communication. This paper supplements that view by arguing that the evolution of normative practices, and the associated norm psychology, played a crucial role in this process. Specifically, it suggests that receivers, through their normative behaviors such as punishment and social ostracization, created evolutionary pressure on signalers to develop strategies for avoiding negative reactions, thereby driving the emergence of ostensive-inferential communication. The hearer-oriented approach is supported by recent research in pragmatics and social cognition, which highlights the significant role of hearers in determining communicated content and emphasizes the normative aspects of human communication. The paper further discusses how this approach complements existing speaker-oriented models, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary dynamics that led to the development of uniquely human communication.