Gunner,

I almost went back and posted a note about that. I do recall a not at
all scientific observation of some children that had grown up in
isolation that were indeed mute. I don't think there have been any
scientific studies...at least I hope not!

But to think of this this way is not what I had in mind nor is it
what I believe Buddhaghossa had in mind (and believe me you are not
talking to someone who puts much faith in anything Buddhaghossa has
to say).

What I am talking about is more like what we understand as evolution
and would not be possible to test...stick a bunch of kids somewhere
in isolation and watch how language evolves...which could take a
million years for all I know.

I think Buddhaghossa is here simply using his vocabulary to describe
what we have come to know as instinct or hard-wired knowledge.