Re: lexicon

Quoting Sally Caves <scaves@...>:

> Andreas [not sure I'm attacking him or not! :) ]
> > I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to convey here - by form you
> seem
> to
> > be arguing against what I wrote above,
>
> Not really.  I'm adding my two cents and a half to your theory.  The
> only
> thing I think should be reconsidered is whether one aspect of human
> development precedes the other.  I don't think it does.  I also don't
> think
> that apes are going to develop language in any more complicated way
> than
> they have developed "culture."  Your point was that apes have a
> culture
> without having a language.  I feel that that idea needs  to be refined
> a
> little.  Both chimpanzees and wolves have non-lingual ways of
> communicating
> with each other--body language, expressions, vocalizations--and both
> chimpanzees and wolves have also developed social structures and
> hierarchies, a "culture" if you wish: behaviors that are acceptable
> and
> non-acceptable, approval and disapproval that is communicated and
> learned by
> living in these societies.  Chimpanzees are nearer us in tool-making
> abilities, which might put them a rung above wolves in societal
> development.
> Both you and I are in agreement that Mark's theory is flawed, but I
> wanted
> to make sure that you and I agree that the one (culture) doesn't
> necessarily
> precede the other (communication).
As John pointed out, actual _communication_ goes way back, sure before
anything one could label "culture". I agree we don't have the evidence to say
whether culture or _language_ came first among humans.

> I agree with you that we really
> just
> don't know, but I hang my hat on one theoretical peg more readily than I
> do
> on another...by private conviction, that is; not because I'm an expert
> by
> any means at any of these sciences.
I'd put my money on culture (within the human lineage) predating human
language, but that's of course also an amateur's impressions.

                                                       Andreas