User loginNavigation   Add it to your site! 
The Rational Response Squad is a group of atheist activists who impact society by changing the way we view god belief. This site is a haven for those who are pushing back against the norm, and a place for believers of gods to have their beliefs exposed as false should they want to try their hand at confronting us. Buy any item on AMAZON, and we'll use the small commission to help end theism, dogma, violence, hatred, and other irrationality.  
|
Why are there so many differant languages ? Chomsky on languages great mysteries
Posted on: October 24, 2009 - 3:49am
  Offline
Why are there so many differant languages ? Chomsky on languages great mysteries
Can anyone tell me why there are so many languages ? bigthink.com/noamchomsky/noam-chomsky-on-languages-great-mysteries Bookmark/Search this post with: |
|
Copyright Rational Response Squad 2006-2009.
|
Because, like religions and species, languages evolve, and evolution produces diversity.
Q: "Isn't it a miracle that the universe/life/consciousness/myself exists?"
A: "No."
----
For any person P, question Q, and concept X
If the asking of Q depends on the existence of X, and P asks Q
Then X exists, and P should not be surprised of that
Yep, it really is that simple.
Languages evolved in many different parts of the world, with limited or no communication with each other, so such diversity, rather than being a mystery, was inevitable.
There is apparently a significant common structure in our brains which determines the general structure of the grammar of languages ( see Steven Pinker), but the details of the structure and the mapping of phonemes to the elements of the grammar are largely contingent.
Favorite oxymorons: Gospel Truth, Rational Supernaturalist, Business Ethics, Christian Morality
"Theology is now little more than a branch of human ignorance. Indeed, it is ignorance with wings." - Sam Harris
From the sublime to the ridiculous: Science -> Philosophy -> Theology
Yes ! Stephen Pinker is really good,I read a few of his books, " Stuff of Thought " and " Blank Slate and Book TV had him on for a three hour discussion about his work and his influences.