El efecto Baldwin: Su papel en biología evolutiva y su aplicación a la evolución del lenguaje

Baldwin effect: its role in evolutionary language and its role in the evolution of lenguage Currently, the Baldwin effect, i.e., the idea that ontogenetic adaptations may become inherited and therefore may affect the direction of evolutionary change, is in fashion. Several proposals have come to the fore assuming that such effect is able to explain different adaptive traits, particularly regarding complex learned behaviors. After stating the reasons that led to the Baldwin effect as well as its practice, this paper aims at critically discussing its role in evolutionary biology and language evolution. The point is made that the Baldwin effect lacks clear empirical evidence and thus is supported by purely theoretical instances. Finally, the paper raises some problems derived from the application of the Baldwin effect to the language phylogeny. Key words: Baldwin effect, phenotypic plasticity, genetic assimilation, evolutionary biology, natural selection, language evolution.