Podcast
Questions and Answers
What conclusion did Psammetichus reach after isolating two newborns?
What conclusion did Psammetichus reach after isolating two newborns?
What effect did isolation have on the children observed by Akbar the Great?
What effect did isolation have on the children observed by Akbar the Great?
Which of the following best supports the claim that language is learned through interaction?
Which of the following best supports the claim that language is learned through interaction?
What role does the biblical tradition play in the origins of language?
What role does the biblical tradition play in the origins of language?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the story of the Tower of Babel suggest about the concept of a divine language?
What does the story of the Tower of Babel suggest about the concept of a divine language?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the Bow-Wow Theory primarily emphasize as the origin of language?
What does the Bow-Wow Theory primarily emphasize as the origin of language?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes a potential flaw in the Pooh-Pooh Theory?
Which of the following best describes a potential flaw in the Pooh-Pooh Theory?
Signup and view all the answers
Which example best illustrates an onomatopoeia in relation to the Bow-Wow Theory?
Which example best illustrates an onomatopoeia in relation to the Bow-Wow Theory?
Signup and view all the answers
What kind of sounds does the Pooh-Pooh Theory attribute to the beginnings of language?
What kind of sounds does the Pooh-Pooh Theory attribute to the beginnings of language?
Signup and view all the answers
How does the existence of exhalation in spoken language challenge the Pooh-Pooh Theory?
How does the existence of exhalation in spoken language challenge the Pooh-Pooh Theory?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Divine Source of Language
- Biblical tradition credits God with creating Adam and naming every living creature.
- Hindu tradition credits Sarasvati, wife of Brahma, with bringing language to humanity.
Experiments on Language Acquisition
-
Psammetichus, an Egyptian pharaoh, isolated two newborn babies for two years to observe language acquisition.
-
Reportedly, the children uttered a Phrygian word, "bekos," meaning "bread".
-
King James IV of Scotland similarly isolated children, who allegedly spoke Hebrew.
-
Mogul emperor Akbar the Great also isolated children, but they produced no speech.
The Case Against Spontaneous Language
- These experiments demonstrate that language acquisition is not spontaneous but reliant on exposure to language.
- Wild and isolated children, like Victor of Aveyron and Genie, exemplify this.
- These cases suggest the lack of evidence for spontaneous emergence of language.
Original Language Theory
- The idea that humans may have a "divine source" of language is reflected in many religions.
- The book of Genesis describes a situation where human language was confused, in the city of Babel.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the divine and scientific perspectives on the origins and acquisition of language. This quiz examines biblical, Hindu traditions, and historical experiments to understand how language develops. Dive into intriguing cases like Victor of Aveyron and Genie that challenge the concept of spontaneous language emergence.
