Evidence for a language instinct
- Comparable grammatical complexity & follow rules
- Inferred rules, not just imitated (“goed” instead of “went” despite never hearing “goed”)
- Read & write must be taught vs learning to speak by themselves at a much younger age with the least of help
- Innately constrained to ‘guess’ what words refer to (‘cupness’, not material/handle/size…)
- Innately impose grammar to non-grammatical languages (pidgin language → creole / sign language)
- Children develop language skills in a predictable order and pattern irrespective of amount of input
- Sensitive period when instinct is expressed (Genie > 13 yo, LA)
A sensitive period during which something can be learnt, and outside which it cannot, is a feature of many animals’ instincts.
Link to original
Language constrains/determines thought?
^ad9182Yet even bad ideas take a lot of killing, and the notion that language is a form of culture that can shape the brain, rather than vice versa, has been an inordinate time a-dying. Even though the canonical case histories, like the lack of a concept of time in the Hopi language and hence in Hopi thought, have been exposed as simple frauds, the notion that language is a cause rather than consequence of the human brain’s wiring survives in many social sciences. It would be absurd to argue that only Germans can understand the concept of taking pleasure at another’s misfortune; and that the rest of us, not having a word for Schadenfreude, find the concept entirely foreign.
Link to original
Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas
- In monkeys
The Broca-homologue is used for controlling the muscles of the monkey’s face, larynx, tongue and mouth. The Wernicke-homologue is used for recognising sound sequences and the calls of other monkeys.
Link to original