Comments on: The Birth of a Language http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/ A collection of Damn Interesting things Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:49:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: tarteauxpommes http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/#comment-16771 tarteauxpommes Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:35:12 +0000 #comment-16771 <p>Well, I'm a twin, and we never developed languages. We just know each other well enough that we barely have to talk at all about everyday things.</p> Well, I’m a twin, and we never developed languages. We just know each other well enough that we barely have to talk at all about everyday things.

]]> By: E-hero http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/#comment-13292 E-hero Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:06:31 +0000 #comment-13292 <p>I invented a language, it's called "grunts" I bet you've heard it.</p> I invented a language, it’s called “grunts” I bet you’ve heard it.

]]> By: Starling http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/#comment-12570 Starling Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:59:30 +0000 #comment-12570 <p>Damn Interesting, and I applaud you. I've never heard of this before, but it reminds me of the cases where identical (or fraternal, but I'm sure those are less common) twins come up with their own languages, and don't learn English (or Mandarin, or Sanskrit or whatever) until later. </p><p> What denki said was really interesting, too- especially the bit with a ball rolling, and how one would rotate the hand faster to indicate speed. </p> Damn Interesting, and I applaud you. I’ve never heard of this before, but it reminds me of the cases where identical (or fraternal, but I’m sure those are less common) twins come up with their own languages, and don’t learn English (or Mandarin, or Sanskrit or whatever) until later.

What denki said was really interesting, too- especially the bit with a ball rolling, and how one would rotate the hand faster to indicate speed.

]]> By: Emmy http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/#comment-10342 Emmy Sat, 18 Nov 2006 07:05:46 +0000 #comment-10342 <p>Oh yeah, and the article was good and all that.</p> Oh yeah, and the article was good and all that.

]]> By: Emmy http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/#comment-10341 Emmy Sat, 18 Nov 2006 07:05:26 +0000 #comment-10341 <p><span class='quote'>just_dave said: "That is pretty incredible. </span></p><p><span class='quote'> I wonder though about, "teachers at the schools are careful not to introduce any elements of other sign-language systems; these could possibly contaminate the development of ISN." Wouldn't isolating ISN students from other language elements actually prevent the language from developing naturally? Look at other languages; if there is interaction between speakers of different languages, terms are shared between them, and both are positively affected by such "contamination". There are many terms in other languages that have no equivalent - or inadequate equivalents - in English, but terminology from other languages has found common use among English speakers."</span></p><p> JUST DAVE??? I call myself Not Dave!!! Lol, another coinky-dink for ya!</p> just_dave said: “That is pretty incredible.


I wonder though about, “teachers at the schools are careful not to introduce any elements of other sign-language systems; these could possibly contaminate the development of ISN.” Wouldn’t isolating ISN students from other language elements actually prevent the language from developing naturally?

Look at other languages; if there is interaction between speakers of different languages, terms are shared between them, and both are positively affected by such “contamination”. There are many terms in other languages that have no equivalent – or inadequate equivalents – in English, but terminology from other languages has found common use among English speakers.”

JUST DAVE??? I call myself Not Dave!!! Lol, another coinky-dink for ya!

]]> By: etonalife http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/#comment-10112 etonalife Mon, 13 Nov 2006 00:51:36 +0000 #comment-10112 <p>DI Marisa! And thanx to Denki for the supplement as well...</p><p>Since so much of how people communicate is through facial expressions, I wonder if the kids could've had as rapid a success, or success at all, if they all wore blank stares 24/7.</p> DI Marisa! And thanx to Denki for the supplement as well…

Since so much of how people communicate is through facial expressions, I wonder if the kids could’ve had as rapid a success, or success at all, if they all wore blank stares 24/7.

]]> By: buttered_toast http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/#comment-9974 buttered_toast Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:57:00 +0000 #comment-9974 <p>Thats pretty intense, I wish I could invent a language...</p> Thats pretty intense, I wish I could invent a language…

]]> By: Aaron78 http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/#comment-9837 Aaron78 Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:56:08 +0000 #comment-9837 <p>Reminds me of Bartleby. I would prefer not to.</p> Reminds me of Bartleby. I would prefer not to.

]]> By: Misfit http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/#comment-9826 Misfit Tue, 07 Nov 2006 17:45:22 +0000 #comment-9826 <p>Oh that is AWESOME!! WOW!</p><p>Kinda makes you wonder if the first cavemen were really the primitive grunters that we have becomed so accustomed to stereotyping. Personally, I don't think so.</p><p>AMAZINGLY DI, Brook!</p> Oh that is AWESOME!! WOW!

Kinda makes you wonder if the first cavemen were really the primitive grunters that we have becomed so accustomed to stereotyping. Personally, I don’t think so.

AMAZINGLY DI, Brook!

]]> By: Marisa Brook http://www.damninteresting.com/the-birth-of-a-language/#comment-9804 Marisa Brook Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:21:51 +0000 #comment-9804 <p>Interesting comments, guys! (Thanks, Denki, for the more specific information - appreciated!)</p><p><span class='quote'>donlaudanny said: "Damn interesting, but a far more useful article would be one that deconstructs the grammatical principles behind pirate talk."</span></p><p> But they only have one letter in their alphabet ('R')! * laughs *</p><p><span class='quote'>Isn't it an intuitive deduction that humans have the innate ability with which to form languages to communicate?</span></p><p> Well, it's pretty widely accepted, but not universally so. This is a bit oversimplified, but there are also those who believe humans interact because of the mere presence of other humans - i.e. we learn everything we know about communication from having others around.</p> Interesting comments, guys! (Thanks, Denki, for the more specific information – appreciated!)

donlaudanny said: “Damn interesting, but a far more useful article would be one that deconstructs the grammatical principles behind pirate talk.”

But they only have one letter in their alphabet (‘R’)! * laughs *

Isn’t it an intuitive deduction that humans have the innate ability with which to form languages to communicate?

Well, it’s pretty widely accepted, but not universally so. This is a bit oversimplified, but there are also those who believe humans interact because of the mere presence of other humans – i.e. we learn everything we know about communication from having others around.

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