> Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2001 01:56:11 -0700
> From: Tommie L Powell <tommiepowell@...>
> A large base of technical knowledge is imbedded in any tribal
> language's vocabulary,
Yes.
> and any tribal language embodies a large base of sophisticated
> techniques in its grammar.
Not in the sense of something that has to be taught explicitly.
> Such a vocabulary surely takes many generations to build up.
In so far as the vocabulary cannot exist before the technology, yes.
> Such a grammar surely takes many generations to build up.
No.
It's a nice rethorical parallel you're building, but unlike Socratic
symposia in 500 BC, that doesn't have force of evidence here.
We know that full-featured grammars form in one generation. Read any
book about creoles.
Grammar is only to a very small part a conscious social convention
that is elaborated when a lack is felt --- especially not in spoken
language. (People do have a tendency to elaborate the syntax of their
written language, often in the hope of marking prestige).
Lars Mathiesen (U of Copenhagen CS Dep) <thorinn@...> (Humour NOT marked)