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From: m0p@k.cc.purdue.edu (S. Kulikowski)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Degenerate Lang Learning Experiment
Message-ID: <2273@k.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: Thu, 12-Nov-87 12:03:38 EST
Article-I.D.: k.2273
Posted: Thu Nov 12 12:03:38 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Nov-87 21:33:25 EST
Reply-To: m0p@k.cc.purdue.edu (S. Kulikowski)
Organization: Purdue University
Lines: 34


 
  since  there has been a lot mail about language learning crystallization and
possible deprivation experiments, i recall reading about one  such  experiment
conducted by the ancient egyptians...  probably the earliest language learning
experiment in history.
 
  it  seems  that  the  priests were endlessly debating which language was the
root tongue from which all other languages descended.  this  would  presumably
be  the  purest language of the gods and most proper for worship.  to end this
debate, the pharoh ordered that a pair of twins be taken at birth  and  raised
in  a  temple  by  priests  under a vow of silence.  they were never to hear a
single word of contemporary languages, so whatever speech they developed would
be the purest language.
 
  eventually  the twins began to speak to each other.  from what we know today
of  twin  idiolects  this  seems  quit   probable.    apparently   the   first
recognizeable  word  they  developed  was  'phekros'  which was phoenician for
'bread'.  from this the egyptians concluded that phoenician was closest to the
root language of the gods.
 
  i wish i could give you a reference to this experiment.  perhaps some of the
folks  in  NLKR  can  do it.  it has been quite a few years since i have found
child language to be  profitable,  so  i  cannot  even  recall  the  secondary
reference  i  read  this in.  i would love to track down the primary reference
from antiquity.  this seems like a pretty  sophisticated  experimental  design
for a culture as old as the pharonic dynasties.
                                               stan
 
 
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