Re: THEORY: Question about the evolution of language
| From: | Boudewijn Rempt <bsarempt@...> |
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| Date: | Tuesday, September 7, 1999, 10:05 |
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On Tue, 7 Sep 1999, Nik Taylor wrote:
> Boudewijn Rempt wrote:
> > My guess is that they wouldn't evolve any language, and die out
> > from lack of communciation within a very short time ;-). I don't think
> > people can survive without language anymore.
>
> Well, deaf people in Nicaragua created a sign language from scratch (not
> a pidgin from previous sign languages, but a totally new one) when
> brought together for the first time.
>
But they had knowledge of communication and probably of language,
too - if you'd just dump babies with a group of deaf & dumb adults
who have been forbidden to communicate, I don't think the idea of
communication would arise. They might survive if mysterious outsiders
provided everyone with plenty of food and medical care... It's an
interesting idea for a science-fiction story, so interesting that I
wouldn't wonder if it has been written already!
Boudewijn Rempt | http://denden.conlang.org/~bsarempt