tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Jan 29 06:52:38 1996
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Re: "Native Speakers"
On Fri, 26 Jan 1996 [email protected] wrote:
> Hovjaj 96061.7 ghItlh Doq:
>
> >I find it highly likely that native speaking children would have proper
> >grammar while their non-native speaking parents do not.
>
> I've been following the "native speakers" conversation with a little
> confusion. I'm no linguist (even though I've always wanted to play one on
> TV), but I can't help thinking that the phenomenon of children learning a
> language correctly while their parents have an imperfect grasp of it is due
> to their having contact with many other sources of the language.
There's evidence that children, exposed *only* to imperfect language
models, will still aquire that language with correct grammar, even where
the grammar is modelled incorrectly. How can this be? You've touched on
a topic of much debate in linguistic circles. Some linguists believe
that humans must have some inherent priciples of grammar "hard-wired"
into their brains, that they are born with and apply to the task of
learning their native languages. If this is the case, then the other
source that you believe must exist, is the built-in knowledge of language
that all humans are born with.
Of course, this all breaks down with Klingon, because it's not intended
to be a *human* language. What do you get when you mix imperfectly
modelled Klingon with a human's implicit knowledge of human language?
Certainly not something that's closer to a "correct" version of Klingon.
> If I am correct, then how can you have "native" speakers come out of a
> culture which does not use Klingon at all? There would be no cues, no
> encounters with someone from that language. The only chance is to rely on
> the human instinct for language. But then doesn't it become a human
> language, rather than one with Klingon forces at work behind it? I'm having
> a little trouble expressing this idea. Does anyone understand what I'm
> getting at?
We will have native speakers of *something*. Or if you prefer, we may
have speakers of Klingon with near-native competency. Yes, I do
understand what you're getting at, and I believe you are correct. In
some ways it'd resemble a creole, though instead of mixing two languages
in contact, it'd be a mix of Klingon and inherent principles of human
language. If you're interested in studying inherent principles of
grammar, it's a very exciting idea. {{:)
> SuStel
> Hovjaj 96068.7
--Holtej