On 7/28/07, Mike Tintner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > "Joel Pitt" < > > Learning baby speech: > > http://www.stuff.co.nz/4140624a28.html?source=RSStech_20070726 > > > > "In the past, people have tried to argue it wasn't possible for any > > machine to learn these things, and so it had to be hard-wired (in > > humans)," he said. "Those arguments, in my view, were not particularly > > well grounded." > > > > > Thanks. That's interesting. The hard-wired theory of language learning > sounds way too complicated. > > What theories are there re when babies start learning to talk? I wonder to > what extent it is to do with having achieved a minimal, consistent sensory > model of the world, or with possibly having achieved a certain vocal > control. >
You might want to check out "The Symbolic Species" by Terrence Deacon. He gives a coherent account of language evolution and acquisition while rejecting the idea of a "language organ" or "language acquisition device". http://www.amazon.com/Symbolic-Species-Co-Evolution-Language-Brain/dp/0393317544/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-6747349-8129269?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185644836&sr=8-1 -Jey Kottalam ----- This list is sponsored by AGIRI: http://www.agiri.org/email To unsubscribe or change your options, please go to: http://v2.listbox.com/member/?member_id=231415&id_secret=26230794-6af2d6
