Deacon (1997) argued that language evolved (evolves?) independently of human biology and that, contrary to the standard picture, human biology in turn adapted itself to language. This argument is similar to more recent arguments about gene-culture coevolution and ratcheting processes (Levinson). This chapter/paper describes Deacon's argument in detail, particularly how he accounts for the emergence of language from icon or token to index to symbol. In subsequent chapters I will argue for a similar, and better documented, emergence of written language.