Theories About The Capacity of Learning Human Languages

1048 Words3 Pages

Question: Does language play roles of equal importance in areas of knowledge?
The question as to if language play roles of equal importance in all areas of knowledge is a difficult one to answer. However, I will try to answer it as well as I can. An important thing we must do first is to define what language is and how we learn it. Language is the system of words or signs that people use to express thoughts and feelings to each other . There were two main contrasting theories suggested in the twentieth century; the ones of B.F. Skinner and Noam Chomsky. The first one assumed that no innate capacity is present in humans and instead focused on language as an impact of experience on learning. On the other hand, Noam Chomsky disapproved the theory of B.F. Skinner and argued that the capacity for learning language is innate in human beings - meaning that the human brain has the capacity to learn any language from birth .
Before I begin my Essay I would like to give an example of the importance in language many years ago. I was recently watching the advertisement of Bake Rolls and it interested me a lot. A bunch of Neanderthals are trying to name the wheel. It is really interesting to see how all forms of language, verbal and non-verbal are integrated together to pass a message to the other Neanderthals. When he says ‘sinema gugu’ meaning ‘I will call it’ he includes sign language and expressions to convince his fellows that he has the best idea before he even says what his idea is. This emphasizes that any of the systems of human language, are used and understood by a particular group of people.
This is a micrograph of how language has developed up to nowadays. The 21st century can be considered as the information era that includes t...

... middle of paper ...

...annon and Weaver Model of Communication." Communication Theory RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2014. .
5. "Crick and Watson (1916-2004)." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 21 May 2014. .
6. "EXONIC TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR BINDING DIRECTS CODON CHOICE AND AFFECTS PROTEIN EVOLUTION." Science Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2014.
7. "Scientists discover double meaning in genetic code." UW Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2014. .
8. Dombrowski, Eileen, Lena Rotenberg, and Mimi Bick. "Chapter 19. The Natural Sciences." Theory of Knowledge Course Companion. Oxford: OXFORD, 2013. 332-333. Print.

Open Document