Apparently scientists have found DNA evidence that perhaps Neanderthals might have possessed the ability to speak. That is certainly very interesting and casts a very different light on the individuals we have considered unintelligent for a long time. And it also brings up a very interesting point, that we assign intelligence and perhaps value to things that speak. When someone is mute, or cannot speak a language correctly, it is our first reaction to think of that person as less intelligent - when in reality, that person simply cannot speak the language. An example of this, although not entirely equivalent to the last statement is George Bush. He is deemed unintelligent not for his policies per say, but by his speech mannerisms. In the same way, our perception of cavemen, as unintelligent creatures, takes a dramatic hit for the worse, as new findings state that they could possible talk. It is also very interesting, when one thinks about it, is that the use of the word "barbarian." It is a word used to denounce someone as being primitive and rather insulting. Yet, when one looks at how the word was formed, we see something interesting. It was used to describe someone, whom someone could not understand, eg. "blah blah blah", and thus the term barbaric was coined. It was initially used by Greeks to define non-Greeks. And it is interesting that even over the centuries a tremendous amount of emphasis was placed between speaking and intelligence. A great speaker is usually defined as very intelligent, although, he could be very dumb. So I am very curious, if we find one dog, that could speak intelligently, would that dog attain more rights than a mute?
http://www.firstscience.com/home/perspectives/editorials/could-neanderthals-speak_38144.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/20/nbrute120.xml
http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/22/stories/2007102255892000.htm
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3 comments:
Interesting post. I agree with a lot of what you say and I do have a question or two for you... Even if neandertals had the ability to speak, do you think that gives them the ability to communicate? Effectively? Can they think? Or instead of grunting and pointing, are they closer to words and pointing? What ramifications do these potentials have?
I associate the ability to speak with the ability to think, but not the ability to think with the ability to speak. And it is only natural, I feel, for them to use words, and point - after all, don't we point as well? - gesticulating...I do not think it has any ramifications, just for the simple fact that they could communicate...but, they are extinct, so something went awry.
Nice post, and an interesting perspective on this issue. However, it might be worth critically considering the evidence the researchers have presented in favor of the idea that neanderthals had language. check out some of the other blogs that have questioned the validity of their conclusions and the nature of the "language gene"!
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