Jul 10, 2012

Birth of Language

And still, despite the lack of evidence for a serious academic research and study, despite the risks of being accused of profanity, and no matter how pointless the speculations might turn out to be, the question of emergence of the language faculty is something that constantly fascinates and excites me. It truly is the great mystery: at some point human being began to talk. A symbol was born. The symbol of "fire" instead of fire. The "I" instead of I. The moment, when the same idea was comprehended by two human beings in a dialogue, when one logos encountered another logos.
Did the ability to talk evolve gradually, or did it appear suddenly, as a result of some genetic mutation? Steven Pinker, or Noam Chomsky? Is language an evolutionary error?
We don't know why we are able to ask a question about our ability.

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