Re: Conlang book report: The Unfolding of Language

Den 1. jan. 2007 kl. 03.25 skrev Amanda Babcock Furrow:
>
> My least favorite part of the book is the last chapter.  The author
> attempts to show, in a broad sketch, how language as we know it would
> have developed naturally and inevitably from what he calls the "me
> Tarzan"
> stage to the fully subordinating structure that we have today.  He
> illustrates the progress of his thought experiment using a story about
> a father spearing a mammoth to save his daughter.
>
> A mammoth?  "Me Tarzan"?  I found this section painful to read; I was
> embarrassed for the author.  I'd rather get more details on the
> Semitic
> verb system instead.
This makes me curious. I'd like a very brief outline, please. I know
some people have screwed-up ideas about the origin of language. Is he
one of them? Or is it you? Or is it me?

Screwed-up ideas can be entertaining, if nothing else.

LEF

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