English Language Discussion Forums

**Red5** · #1 24-Jul-2003, 21:23

Webpage Link: The Origin of Language Debate

#2 08-Jan-2004, 13:49

is cajun the origin of languages?

**Tdol** · #3 09-Jan-2004, 18:37

Not that I know of- it's the language spoken in parts of Louisiana as I understand it.

#4 11-Apr-2004, 15:38

I found your remarks most illuminating. I failed to find your name. Please tell me who you are. Thanks.

**Red5** · #5 13-Apr-2004, 12:36

Unfortunately, the original essay seems to have been taken down or moved from its original location.

MikeNewYork · #6 13-Apr-2004, 17:02

It seems to me that these are very weak:

Point 3 - There is no language organ
While the location and nature of the LAD (Language Acquisition Device) remain little understood or even identified, language is cerebral, so it is contained within one organ, the brain, about which we know very little.

Ponit 4 - There are no language genes

This is only true if number 3 is, which I find questionable. The fact that the human genome has been published does not mean that we have grasped how it all works, especially diachronically.

**Tdol** · #7 13-Apr-2004, 18:53

They don't offer concrete proof.

MikeNewYork · #8 13-Apr-2004, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

They don't offer concrete proof.

Neither side has concrete proof. But those two rebuttals are almost worse than nothing. :wink:

**Tdol** · #9 13-Apr-2004, 21:22

The first is a bit shaky and this does hole the second below the waterline. The language gene theories are at best in their infancy. As far as I know, there has been some evidence to suggest that one gene might affect language learning if it is missing.

#10 10-Jun-2004, 17:35

Is there anyone who would like to argue about the relationship between the origin of language and second language acquisition?