The History of Language
The history of language is a contraversial topic. There is much debate over how language began and how it has developed over time. Watch the following video clip from a series that was filmed to try and explore the histroy of language. After you watch the video comment below in reguards to your opinion on this topic or anything you found intriguing in the video. You should also ask at least on question that you would like to discuss based on this topic. After you have posted you must respond to your classmates posts and answer any questions they post. Remember you are graded on your post content, frequency, clarity, follow up posts, etc. Please see rubric for more detail. I will be checking the blog all week for participation and next Friday you will have a new blog.
EPISODE 1:
Speaking in Tongues: The History of Langauge - Episode # 1 - Let There Be Words preview. What precisely is language, and how did humans acquire it? In an effort to answer those essential questions, this program journeys back to prehistoric times in search of languages origin. But this is not a passive discussion, as scholars and others passionately defend their points of view. Additional topics include distinguishing features of human communication and what humankinds first utterances may have been. The early evolution and migration of humans is also considered.
AS THE BLOG HAS DEVELOPED MANY OF YOU HAVE ASKED SOME GREAT QUESTIONS AND PROVIDED GREAT INSIGHT. TO FURTHER THE DISCUSSION, BELOW I HAVE POSTED MORE EPISODES FROM THIS SERIES ON THE THE HISTORY OF LANGUAGE. READ THE SYNOPSIS BELOW EACH VIDEO BEFORE WATCHING TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EACH VIDEO IS ADDRESSING. FEEL FREE TO COMMENT ON ANY OR ALL VIDEOS.
EPISODE 2:
Speaking in Tongues: The History of Language Episode #2 Constant Change preview. In this program, scholars examine factors that contributed to the diversification and spread of languages, including early migration, the introduction of agriculture, and genes. Language transfer from mother to child and from one population to the next is also investigated, along with the concept of dialects and commonalities among the worlds more than 6,000 languages.
EPISODE 3:
Speaking in Tongue: The History of language Episode # 3 Mother Tongue - preview. This program travels the globe as it surveys a large portion of the worlds languages—25 percent of which are spoken by a mere 0.1 percent of the Earths population. Moving from Africa to Oceania and up to Asia and then west to Europe and across the ocean to the Americas, the program assesses how many languages are spoken in each region, the characteristics they share, and misconceptions about them. Historical background on some of the key languages of the regions is included as well.
EPISODE 4:
Speaking in Tongues The History of Language Episode # 4 Civilization to Colonization - preview. Writing is a relative latecomer to the history of language. This program tracks its emergence in Mesopotamia, China, and Mesoamerica and its spread down through the millennia via conquest—usually violent, sometimes benign—and colonization. The creation of creoles and pidgins resulting from the interaction of specific populations is also addressed, and speculation is made about the first things to be written down.
EPISODE 5:
Speaking in Tongues: The History of Language Episode # 5 Life and Death - preview. It is predicted that within a century more than half of the worlds languages will become extinct, but as languages are lost, new ones emerge naturally or are constructed. In this program, Noam Chomsky; Esperantist Thomas Eccard; endangered languages researcher Peter Ladefoged, who has since passed away; and others provide insights into the language life cycle. Topics include constructed languages such as Esperanto, language endangerment and preservation, and the role of globalization in language obsolescence. The experts also discuss current language trends and offer their opinions on which languages may emerge as front-runners of the future.
