Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 10:14:47 +0100 Subject: Re: [evol-psych] Scientists find gene behind learning to talk
> THE INDEPENDENT > Scientists find gene behind learning to talk > By Steve Connor Science Editor > 04 October 2001 > > The first gene to be linked to the human trait of language learning has > been isolated by scientists who believe it could indicate new ways of > treating children suffering from speech impairment. > > Scientists have long suspected that there are specific genes dedicated to > speech ever since Charles Darwin, and later the linguist Noam Chomsky, > noted the innate ability of children to learn a language. Like most linguists, I am persuaded that our language faculty must have an important genetic component. It therefore seems strange that I should be urging caution in accepting these reports. But I am troubled. First, it is hardly true that Darwin or Chomsky "noted" the innate ability of children to learn a language. Such innateness, if it exists, is not the sort of thing that can be "noted". Instead, it must be argued for, on the basis of solid evidence. Such evidence exists, but it does not derive from the mere observation that children acquire a first language. It derives from other sources, and perhaps most especially from the careful study of the *manner* in which children acquire a first language. It is the findings about the manner of acquisition which have persuaded so many linguists that learning a first language is a feat very different from learning to play the guitar, or learning to ice-skate, or learning to do long division. In spite of what is claimed in one of the other journalistic reports about this work posted on the list, there have been earlier reports concluding that particular genetic defects can be associated with particular language disorders -- notably Specific Language Impairment (SLI) and the Williams syndrome. The first such reports concluded that the genetic defects produced *only* linguistic consequences, and no other consequences whatever. But later work has challenged these conclusions, rather successfully, by drawing attention to various non-linguistic disorders associated with the presence of SLI and of the Williams syndrome. Accordingly, the mere observation that a particular genetic defect has predictable linguistic consequences does not suffice to permit the conclusion that "there are specific genes dedicated to speech". No doubt there exist many genetic defects which have terrible consequences for the sufferer's ability to play the guitar, or to ice-skate, or to do long division. But few observers would, from observing such consequences, draw the conclusion that we have specific genes dedicated to ice-skating. At the very least, the investigators must attempt to demonstrate that the genetic defect they have identified has no consequences other than the linguistic ones. Maybe the investigators in this case have addressed this issue, but I haven't had a chance to read the paper in Nature yet, and none of the several journalistic reports I have seen mentions this -- though one other report does at least assure us that the investigators are urging a measure of caution in interpreting their findings, which I am glad to see. Larry Trask COGS University of Sussex Brighton BN1 9QH UK [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (01273)-678693 (from UK); +44-1273-678693 (from abroad) Fax: (01273)-671320 (from UK); +44-1273-671320 (from abroad) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Ligia Parra-Esteban Directora Fundacion VOC de Investigacion de la Comunicacion Entre Cientificos. Apartado Aereo 86745 Bogota. Colombia. http://www.mox.uniandes.edu.co/voc Telefono (+) 571-6242075 Fax (+) 571-6139654 Zona Postal 1102 E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] Secretario Junta Directiva Luis H. Blanco <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Laboratorio de Investigaciones Basicas. Bloque 9 Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad Camilo Torres. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ============================================================================= Si necesita retirarse de la lista envie un mensaje a: [EMAIL PROTECTED] con una unica linea : unsubscribe r-caldas Para inscribirse en la lista envie un mensaje a [EMAIL PROTECTED] con una unica linea : subscribe r-caldas Los mensajes que circulan en la lista los puede consultar en : http://www.mail-archive.com/r-caldas@colciencias.gov.co
