Sign -

: It suggests that early humans had a shared, intentional system of graphic communication long before formal writing systems like cuneiform existed. You can read the full study at PNAS .

Humans 40,000 y ago developed a system of conventional signs : It suggests that early humans had a

: This is a foundational text for semiotics (the study of signs and symbols). Peirce breaks down how a sign works through a three-part structure: the sign itself, the object it represents, and the "interpretant" (how we understand it). Peirce breaks down how a sign works through

: It challenges the idea that sign languages are "just" gestures and explores how the visual nature of signing allows for more direct meaning than spoken sounds. The full text is available via Frontiers in Psychology . : It explains why a word or image

: It explains why a word or image isn't just a thing—it's a tool for meaning that relies entirely on the observer's mind. You can explore a breakdown of his theories at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy . 2. The Evolution of Human Communication (Archaeology)

: This paper compares American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) with spoken English and Spanish. It investigates iconicity —how much a "sign" (word or gesture) physically resembles what it means (e.g., the sign for "drink" looking like drinking from a cup).