----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, May 19, 2000 5:39 PM
Subject: Re: [phoNet] Digest Number
24
Gillaume writes:
... There are racial differences in the vocal track (shape of
teeth,the implantation of nerves etc) but so limited that we can easily
compensate the difference in the articulators to produce the same
sound.
Well, the differences, if they exist, are rather
subtle. There is enough unity to serve as a common denominator for all
humans, no doubt about it; and human learning is flexible. I hope you don't
interpret my modest critique of universalism as racist. Of course a San
child brought up in an English-speaking environment will learn to speak
flawless English, easily overriding her/his innate preferences. And a
European child exposed to a click language will finally accept the fact that
clicks CAN be interpreted as regular phonemes. But subtle differential
tendencies may produce and perpetuate cumulative effects in geographically
and genetically isolated populations.
The difference between a european male and female is much greater
that the difference between of a euorpean with a chinese.
... which is surely why men and women don't speak quite the same
language despite the inevitable far-reaching convergence resulting from
membership of the same speech community ;)
Piotr
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