Re: Is language development evolutionary, or designed by the culture?



Peter T. Daniels wrote:
> Ken Shackleton wrote:
> >
> > Peter T. Daniels wrote:
> > > Ken Shackleton wrote:
> > > >
> > > > John Sorvari wrote:
> > > > > Peter T. Daniels wrote:
> > > > > > ...
> > > > > > Surely language evolved "because" it enhanced the survival probability
> > > > > > of its users?
> > > > >
> > > > > I can't tell how formally you are writing. If by "language evolved" you
> > > > > mean "language came into being" (as too many do), then the statement is
> > > > > not clearly true. A common conterexample is the uselessness for flight
> > > > > of a partially developed wing. As I understand it, variations come into
> > > > > being "at random" and are _retained_ because they enhance survival--in
> > > > > some way not necessarily related to the current use.
> > > >
> > > > In my original question, I was looking for the consensus view on how
> > > > language changes over time....not the origin of language per se.
> > > >
> > > > I have read in several sources that language evolves....using precisely
> > > > the same mechanisms that have been observed in biological evolution.
> > > > This view makes perfect sense to me, but I was looking for other
> > > > opinions.
> > >
> > > That doesn't make sense. How does, say, OV vs. VO provide a selectional
> > > advantage? or presence vs. absence of interdentals?
> >
> > Please pardon my ignorance, but I did not understand a single thing in
> > your sentence. What is VO?
>
> Verb-Object order typology

syntax?

>
> What are interdentals?
>
> the English th-sounds

tongue between teeth sounds....interdentals...I see now.

>
> If you're not familiar with some basic features of language, how can you
> claim that they provide selectional advantages?

Thanks for that....I am claiming nothing, I am looking for an opinion
and I have read some books on evolution that have used the development
of language as an example of the process.

I am looking for opinions of others on the subject.

Many features may not have any selective value at all, they may be
neutral. I would imagine that most features of language would be
neutral to selection forces.


> --
> Peter T. Daniels grammatim@xxxxxxx

.

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