Re: The Forbidden Expariment
From: | Grandsire, C.A. <grandsir@...> |
Date: | Wednesday, November 24, 1999, 15:48 |
Paul Bennett wrote:
>
> Alex C.>>>>>>
> I have a new version of the FE (Forbidden Experiment). I wonder whether
> any of you has thought about teaching his/her conlang to his/her baby
> (apart from the national language, of course). I wonder if any of you
> has decided to achieve a "different" family in this way. I can see my
> son asking if he can go out with girls... in lojban!! (for example)
> <<<<<<
>
> That's a very good point. I know there was a thread (ages ago) about the best
> language(s) to talk to pets in, and I think either Irina or Mia may have
> mentioned conwords used to/by their children. I may be wrong.
>
I think you're right, especially reagrds to pets. Irina, Mia, tell us
again. :)
> The language acquisition FE has occured (unintentionally) to a greater or lesser
> degree many times. It appears that without any human contact, lone children
> will not make their own language, but (i.e.) twins in language-sparse situations
> will tend to (at the very least) extend their language with conwords (and
> congrammar?).
>
Generally the grammar is pidginized as far as I know. See the movie
_Nell_, a pretty good performance of Jodi Foster BTW.
> I don't know much about twins (or other n-tuplets) in a completely language-free
> environs, but my own opinion (desire?) is that they'd definately produce
> something. ISTR some 19th century guy thought that they'd "naturally" speak
> Sanskrit(?), but I don't recall what experimental evidence he had.
>
He thought it would be Hebrew IIRC, because it was the language of the
Genesis...
--
Christophe Grandsire
Philips Research Laboratories -- Building WB 145
Prof. Holstlaan 4
5656 AA Eindhoven
The Netherlands
Phone: +31-40-27-45006
E-mail: grandsir@natlab.research.philips.com