13.2096, Media: BBC Website, "First Lang Gene Discovered"

[LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List:  Vol-13-2096. Thu Aug 15 2002. ISSN: 1068-4875.

Subject: 13.2096, Media: BBC Website, "First Lang Gene Discovered"

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1)
Date:  Thu, 15 Aug 2002 15:48:55 +0100
From:  Martin Wynne <martin.wynne at ota.ahds.ac.uk>
Subject:  "First language gene discovered"

-------------------------------- Message 1 -------------------------------

Date:  Thu, 15 Aug 2002 15:48:55 +0100
From:  Martin Wynne <martin.wynne at ota.ahds.ac.uk>
Subject:  "First language gene discovered"

An article on the BBC website reports claims to have found the language
gene. You can read it online at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2192969.stm.

The journalist seems to me to have confused grammatical and
articulatory ability. The article appears to claim that the gene
sequence in question controls facial muscles, yet a mistake in this
sequence causes agrammaticism.

The field of linguistics is summarised in the article:

"Scientists argue that there must be a genetic basis to speech and
language.

It is universal, complex and acquired almost instinctively by children
at a young age."

Discuss!
__
Martin Wynne
martin.wynne at ota.ahds.ac.uk
Linguistics Officer
Oxford Text Archive

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