ANTHROP 1AB3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: American Sign Language, Noam Chomsky, Universal Grammar
20 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Language learned system of communication (spoken or written, writing has existed for 6000 years) based on signs used in structured and conventional ways. Language and culture are like 2 sides of a coin. Language is a part of culture, but also a tool through which culture is communicated. While many different animals and organisms can communicate, only humans have the capacity for fully-developed language. Linguist noam chomsky argues that all humans have same linguistic ability. The human brain contains a limited set of rules for organizing language. All languages have a common structural basis. Consist of a limited number of sounds that are produced in the presence of specific stimuli (ex. food, danger) Cannot refer to past or future events or stimuli not present. Calls cannot be combined to produce new calls or spoken at once. Although wild primates use call systems, the vocal tract of apes is not suitable for speech.
