Editing Origin of language (section)

=== Theory of mind ===
{{Main|Theory of mind}}
[[Simon Baron-Cohen]] (1999) argues that theory of mind must have preceded language use, based on evidence of use of the following characteristics as much as 40,000 years ago: intentional communication, repairing failed communication, teaching, intentional persuasion, intentional deception, building shared plans and goals, intentional sharing of focus or topic, and pretending. Moreover, Baron-Cohen argues that many primates show some, but not all, of these abilities.{{Citation needed|date=January 2014}} Call and Tomasello's research on chimpanzees supports this, in that individual chimps seem to understand that other chimps have awareness, knowledge, and intention, but do not seem to understand false beliefs. Many primates show some tendencies toward a theory of mind, but not a full one as humans have.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tomasello |first1=Michael |last2=Call |first2=Josep |last3=Hare |first3=Brian |date=April 2003 |title=Chimpanzees understand psychological states – the question is which ones and to what extent |journal=Trends in Cognitive Sciences |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=153–156 |doi=10.1016/S1364-6613(03)00035-4 |pmid=12691762 |s2cid=3390980}}</ref>

Ultimately, there is some consensus within the field that a theory of mind is necessary for language use. Thus, the development of a full theory of mind in humans was a necessary precursor to full language use.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hale |first1=Courtney Melinda |last2=Tager-Flusberg |first2=Helen |date=June 2003 |title=The influence of language on theory of mind: a training study |journal=Developmental Science |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=346–359 |doi=10.1111/1467-7687.00289 |pmc=1350918 |pmid=16467908}}</ref>