language system?!

Tim_Lou · 12-11-2004

language system is a unique feature of humans,
and it is truely amazing. look around and see all the words that your reading, and all the stuffs that you are hearing.

lines and dots on the screen and papers can drive emotions just as pictures and musics can, while it can lead to aggression or anxiety.

but how do we actually make a association between words and emotions and feelings?
how do new born babies grasp the meaning of languages itself?
and how are people able to learn a new language when being sent to another country while not knowing a single word the locals speak?

also, how are we able to express complex ideas such as love and joy, anger and fear?
and whats the Philosophy idea behind languages?

TINNY · 12-11-2004

it's our mental capacity to use symbolic language i suppose.

i don't dare attribute it to anything metaphysical.

how'd you come up with this question TIm??

TINNY · 12-11-2004

Quote:

language system is a unique feature of humans,

be careful of your assumptions... If it was me who stated that, a big old boor would come ranting after me asking for proof. i'd be dead in a minute grasping for facts. Figuratively anyway.

lindagarrette · 12-13-2004

You should read some elementary textbooks on linguistics and learning theory. Just look for information on the web. If you have a specific question, perhaps I can help. But you need some fundamental knowledge first.

TINNY · 12-13-2004

it would help if you could give a general idea, Linda.

Tim_Lou · 12-13-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by TINNY

be careful of your assumptions... If it was me who stated that, a big old boor would come ranting after me asking for proof. i'd be dead in a minute grasping for facts. Figuratively anyway.

language is definitely a unique feature of humans. Although we do teach other animals language, but thats not "natural".
even monkeys and such do not have language systems, all they have is a system of a limited amounts of syllables.

"Although animals communicate through cries, gestures and mating calls (Coon, 1992) that are understood by members of the same species, in the wild, even chimpanzees make only a few dozen distinct cries, limited to social interactions, but do not relate information about anything not immediately present (Savage-Rumbaugh, Rumbaugh and Boysen, 1980)."
citied from http://www.littletree.com.au/koko.htm

Tim_Lou · 12-13-2004

i understand that language is somthing involving with building habits by conditioned reflex, memory...or Instinct? maybe learning language by trial and error? but how do babies know when it is "error"?

and how are humans able to understand something that cant be defined by language clearly, such as love and anger?