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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 News. 108. 378-379.
- Pearson, D. & Shaw, S. (1982). Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach. New York, NY: Warner.
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