I enjoyed Roy Jacobsen’s comments on a speech by Christine Kenneally at the Writers USA Conference in Portland.
One of the interesting things about language is that it’s not a single ability, but rather a suite of abilities. We’re all born with this innate suite, but the ability to speak seems to develop only if we are spoken to; it does not arise spontaneously on its own. Thus, if we learn to speak only because we are spoken to, how did language arise?
Fascinating subject, with profound philosophical and theological implications, I think. The power of speaking, and the significance of the word, are part of the very architecture of biblical thinking.
That is interesting. The last thing I read on evolutionary theories of language origin were pretty sad. I think Walker Percy shot at those theories at one point in his life.
“Thus, if we learn to speak only because we are spoken to, how did language arise?”
– well; I would think the bible explains this… but I guess no one (in or out of the church wants to hear it.) Obviously God spoke to Adam in the garden. (If you don’t want to believe that you’ll have to invent some fairy tale that appeals to you.)
– I really despair of christians who want more than this. What more could there be?
– The book to read is ‘The Language Gap’ by Clifford Wilson.
I am living that “naming” phase with a two year old grandson.
I just LOVE it.
He knows that everything has a name, and he wants to know what it is.
Not that I ever doubted this, but God certainly knew what he was doing when He had Adam name the animals.