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Copyright © 1997, Jay Ligda.  All rights reserved.  Published by Humans in the Universe and Jay Ligda.

Language and the Development of Tools within the Process of Evolution

      In studying ancient tools, anthropologist Montagu (as cited in Trotter, 1975) argues that speech must have originated in the process of making tools.  Jaynes (1976) disagrees with this.  He shows how tool making can evolve without language.  In fact, he suggests that language could hinder the process of transmission of ideas through imitation.  Jaynes (1976) argues "that it is almost impossible to describe chipping flints into choppers in language" (p. 130).  He goes on saying that language developed when tribes were forced into nomadic life styles by drastic changes in the climate during the ice ages.  Language helped early humans to adapt to a variety of living conditions.

      Jaynes (1976) writes, "the first real elements of speech were the final sounds of intentional calls differentiating in intensity" (p. 132).  The varying intensity evolved into modifiers.  The modifiers could then be separated from the calls they modify and then modify actions.  Tool making could then be refined with words such as "sharper" (Jaynes, 1976).  By refining tool making the quality of life and survivability that tools provided would increase.

by Jay Ligda

(This work is a all or part of an original work first published/written for John. F. Kennedy University:  Final Integrative Project., Mar1996.)


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References

  • Jaynes, J. (1976).  The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind.  Boston, MA:  Houghton Mifflin.
  • Trotter, R. (1975, November).  "Language evolving."  Science News108.  378-379.
  • Pearson, D. & Shaw, S. (1982).  Life Extension:  A Practical Scientific Approach.  New York, NY:  Warner.

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