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From: lief@hpfcrs.UUCP (lief)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <14600014@hpfcrs.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 12-May-85 16:44:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpfcrs.14600014
Posted: Sun May 12 16:44:00 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 23-May-85 01:22:20 EDT
References: <-41400@psivax.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:psivax:-41400:hpfcrs:14600014:37777777600:769
Nf-From: hpfcrs!lief    May 15 12:44:00 1985

>	You are confusing *capacity* and ability. Humans have a
>natural *capacity* to *learn* language, something which no other
>animal has ever been demonstrated to have. Humans only actual learn
>to speak if they have the motivation, that is other humans to which
>to speak must be present. The *real* test of the inborn nature of
>language would be to raise a group of children *together* from
>infancy, but without *any* contact with adults, and then see if they
>invent a language for use among themselves.
>-- 
>
>				Sarima (Stanley Friesen)
>
>/* ---------- */

Any idea what mutation or natural selection mechanism caused mammals which
have no *capacity* for learning languages to somehow gain that ability?

Lief Sorensen
HP Fort Collins, CO
Uucp ...!hpfcla!lief