Re: John has been assimilated

>The difference between chimp and human is not the cognitive ability >to use
>symbols; it's the accretion of new cortical areas in the left >temporal
>lobe, as well as neurological changes to allow very fine >motor activity in
>the mouth, tongue and throat.

Hello! Thank you. Yes, even my dog has "language ability" but I don't see
him speaking, unless I've had a few because he doesn't have the ability to
move his mouth that way.

>Given the evidence for this innate ability (what Noam Chomsky called
> >"Language Acquisition Device), it is unlikely that language arose as >a
>cultural artifact in H. Sapiens history; it was probably already >present
>when our species emerged.

Again though - the confusion of general language with vocal language. One
must make the distinction. Vocal language is dependant purely on our motor
control. Sign language is dependant on our manual dexterity and could
definitely have been an early form of language for early homonids. Language
in general however has obviously been hardwired into us long before we were
rats scurrying over dinosaur footprints.

>If this hypothesis is true, then the evolution of language may have >been
>gradual, growing in sophistication as certain areas of the >brain evolved.

It has to be true, there is no other rational hypothesis.

>As a rank amateur, I am always a bit hesitant to voice my ideas on >this
>forum, but here goes:

Hey, when people are speaking of ProtoWorld reconstructions in seriousness,
you can't do any worse. :)


- gLeN


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