Re: [Marxism-Thaxis] Evolutionary timeline for language >>> The entire article looks dubious and would require a lifetime to discuss.
CB: A lifetime ? What is dubious ?<< Most articles on linguistics at wiki are awful. Any attempt to revise them will result in a small clique 'reverting' them. I was however jokingly referring to the many 'dubious discuss' comments that peppered the article. >> I think the overall thrust of the accounts I posted excerpts from is > formed thus: that syntactisized upper body ^^^^^ CB: Why upper body ? Body language includes the lower body , too, the whole body.<< Yes but gesturing with syntax and coordinated (mentally controlled) with vocalization limits you to the upper body. And it is on the face and the upper respitory and digestive traces where the two systems converge. >>Gesturing and sophisticated > vocalization abilities ^^^^^^^ CB: A lightbulb just went on for me with your emphasis on gesturing. You are just saying that a "sign language" came before a vocalized medium for language, no ?<< A type of 'sign language' is still found in speech, even though we are dominated by the vocal aspects of the system. Try speaking without moving your body. Try speaking to someone without 'gesturing'. People who are fluent sign language users still VOCALIZE when they gesture. Their language is as human and as much a language as any other, but with a different emphasis. And what does their sign language have in common with our speech? One, it has a 'phonology' in that we (at least think we) can analyze into sub-lexical 'units'. Two, it is controlled from the top down (the 'mind' must first conceive a thought to be communicated and then in some sort of 'buffer' structure and plan it, and then realize it). Three, it is kinesthetically experienced by the person controlling and producing it. CJ _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
