The First Language

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CianMcLiam C
CianMcLiam Nov 23, 2005 22:04:06
Replying to PeterH

Chomsky would say that all languages are superficial, part of the human genetic makeup is a verbal communication 'programme' that allows us to quickly learn natural language when we are very young whether we are in Brazil, Bermingham or Beijing. The differences are not very significant compared to the similarity of how they develop and are used easily to express thoughts and needs to others. I suppose that means comparing French and English would be like comparing a Fender guitar to a Gibson guitar, they are constructed differently giving a different sound but the principles are exactly the same.

I think its interesting that the extinction rate of languages is considered alarming, surely one common language that functions well and probably better than the ones that seperate us now is an ideal? I doubt very much a txt language is going to wipe out 'proper' language, and if it did it could only do that if it was able to communicate all the subtleties of historic languages. That would make old languages obsolete anyway.

P PeterH
PeterH Nov 23, 2005 22:27:21
Replying to CianMcLiam

"surely one common language that functions well and probably better than the ones that seperate us now is an ideal"

I take the opposite view. I deplore globalisation and lament the loss of dialects and regional accents. Spencer Wells writes that just 150 years ago, less than half of the people in France spoke French. Most spoke their local dialects and languages. In the area of modern Italy at about the same time, less than 10% of the population spoke Italian.

Yes it helps communication if we all speak American. We learn to mistrust each other more as we understand political and commercial international lies better, but what about the richness of diverse cultures?
Remeber the Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Apache, Seminole, Sioux, San Bushmen, Aborigine children who were thrashed if they spoke their own languages. Give me the rich sounds of Babel and stuff politically correct Orwellian Newspeak.