Origins of Human Languages

Introduction The origin of human languages can be termed as the surfacing of language among humans (Kenneally 10). This topic has remained highly controversial for a very long time. There is very little empirical evidence that can be used to guide research in this area. Numerous hypotheses have been put in place by different scholars to try and explain why and how language might have emerged and developed in human beings (Lieberman, McCarthy and Strait 1441).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Origins of Human Languages specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper seeks to describe three hypotheses concerning the origin of human languages and set a personal point of view in regard to each hypothesis. The mother tongue hypothesis This hypothesis was put forward in the year 2004 to try and get a solution to the problem of language origin. The theory seems to suggest that the Darwinian principle of â€Å"kin selection- convergence of genetic interests between relatives- may be part of the solution† (Harrub, Thompson and Miller pp. 5). Mother tongue hypothesis was put forward by Tecumseh Fitch who suggests that language initially developed as a form of communication between mothers and their own off springs in what is often described as mother tongue. (Kenneally 56) This extended later to other relatives such as siblings and other close relatives. The theory dwells on the idea that the interests of closely associated speakers and listeners were common. According to Fitch, the shared genetic makeup enabled relatives to build a considerable amount of trust and cooperation for the intrinsically unreliable signals which were later accepted as trustworthy words fit for communication (Lieberman, McCarthy and Strait 1441, pp. 4). The mother tongue hypothesis may offer some explanation as to how human language came about but it does not provide any empirical data to support the thinking. In my view, the theory does not offer any reason as to why language developed only in the human species. All other animals, including apes share genes and live in some form of communities. The theory does not explain why language did not develop in such animals. The theory does not offer any substantive reasons as to why early humans restricted communication to relatives. Though the theory might offer some important leads to unraveling the mystery behind human language development but it needs more empirical data to substantiate the argument (Kenneally 57).Advertising Looking for essay on languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The obligatory reciprocal altruism hypothesis It was put forward by Ib Ulbaek and it utilizes some principles from the Darwinian theory-reciprocal altruism, specifically to try and explain the high levels of confidence and honesty required for language development (Lieberman, McCarthy and Strait 1441). Reciproc al altruism can be described as the idea that â€Å"if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours† (Kenneally 102, pp. 5). Reciprocal altruism as used in this theory can be depicted as the relationship that is natured between people or individuals who interact constantly. However, language development at community level requires universal reciprocity rather than individual. Ulbaek explains this by pointing out that early human society must have had some form of moral regulation. Again, this hypothesis does not provide any evidence to support the thinking. It does not give a clear picture of what mechanisms were in place to ensure that obligatory reciprocal altruism was enforced at the community level (Harrub, Thompson and Miller, pp. 6). Although proponents have offered some explanations, its not enough validate the theory. Some critics have pointed out that verbal communication doesn’t really work in terms reciprocal altruism. I find this to be true as people do n ot always talk to other people or individuals who are willing to listen to them. It’s common to see people offering information or communicating to any person who is willing to listen without expecting anything in return (Kenneally 125). The gossip and grooming hypothesis This hypothesis is based on the principle that â€Å"if you scratch my back I will scratch yours† and was put forward by Robin Dunbar (Kenneally 45, pp. 6). According to him, gossiping achieves the same objective for a group of humans living together as grooming in other primate species. Dunbar explains that, when human social groups began to swell up and become extremely large, the practice of grooming one’s associates became tiresome and problematic. To counter this challenge, the early humans invented verbal communication as an efficient and cheap form of grooming (Harrub, Thompson and Miller, pp. 8). Thus to impress friends and other acquaintances, one only needed to utter some sounds. This would ensure that a large number of friends are kept happy simultaneously. Vocal grooming then gradually evolved into spoken language (Kenneally 120). In my view, vocal grooming, as Dunbar calls it, could not have been a satisfactory alternative to manual grooming. The theory is however much better than the others as it offers a better explanation of what triggered verbal communication. But just like the others, it fails to offer any substantive explanation of how this verbal grooming transformed into a complex language (Kenneally 134).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Origins of Human Languages specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion This paper sought to describe three hypotheses concerning the origin of human languages and set a personal point of view in regard to each hypothesis. The hypotheses identified include: the mother tongue hypothesis; the obligatory reciprocal altruism hypothesis; and the gossip and grooming hypothesis. Proponents of three hypotheses try to offer some explanation of how human language came about but they extensively lack empirical evidence to support their arguments. More research is required to establish a more convincing explanation to this phenomenon. Works Cited Harrub, Brad, Bert Thompson and Dave Miller. â€Å"The Origin of Langauge and Communication:True Origin Archive.† 2003. 22 November 2011 https://www.trueorigin.org/language01.php. Kenneally, Christine. The First Word: The Search for the Origins of Language. New York: Viking, 2007. Lieberman, Philip, Robert McCarthy and David Strait. â€Å"The recent origin of human speech.† J Acoust. Soc. Am (2006): 119(5): 3441-3441. This essay on Origins of Human Languages was written and submitted by user Ayanna Herman to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

marx and freud essays

marx and freud essays ) In Capital, Marx analyzes the commodity form, its characteristics, and the kind of society that rises with it. What is his argument about the nature of commodity exchanges? On what foundation of this analysis, he attempts to "force the secret of profit making" in capitalism. How does he demonstrate the way the way in which capital produces profit? Marx reference to commodity can be seen in two forms, use and exchange value, every useful value can be looked at from two points of view, quality, and quantity. A use value is a commodity that is useful. Use value is dealing with definite qualities, such as a dozen of vases or yards of material. Only by consumption, use value becomes a reality. Exchange value can be viewed as a quantitative relation. Goods are changed according to their equality of one another; for example, three tons of rice may equal a ton of iron. Use value commodities differ in qualities whereas exchange values differ in quantities. All products of commodity have only one thing in common and that they are all required in labor. When a product is transferred to another, where that product will serve as a use value by means of exchange, it becomes a commodity. Marx claims, The common substance that manifest itself in the exchange -value of commodities whenever they are exchanged, are their value. Although the exchange-value of commodities is only expressed in value, one has to consider the nature of value independently of this, its form. The value of each commodity is determined by the labor time it took to produce it in that society. What determines value of anything is the amount of labor socially necessary in its production. If product exchan ge at the amount of labour time socially necessary in their production then it would mean that the worker should be paid the value of their labor, the value of the commodities they create, but then where does product come from? How do capitalist make...

A Review of the Character of Fielding and Aziz in E.M. Forster’s Book, A Passage to India

A Review of the Character of Fielding and Aziz in E.M. Forster’s Book, A Passage to India Emotional Unorthodoxy in Personal Relations Of Forster’s many declarations in his essay â€Å"What I Believe,† the most salient is that personal creeds or beliefs â€Å"stiffen† a person and render them less open-minded about everything that defies that creed. The budding friendship between Anglo-Indian Fielding and native Indian Aziz in Forster’s novel A Passage to India demonstrates the value of personal relationships over the value of creeds that generally obstruct those relationships. Forster does this in a way that highlights the unorthodox emotional and temperamental qualities of both men, suggesting that, without these, a friendship between the two who be unlikely. The relationship between Aziz and Fielding, while eventually descending out of real friendship, is based on their joined effort of overlooking the prejudices about Anglo-Indians and native Indians, respectively. However, to say that they are able to connect by ignoring prevailing prejudices is inaccurate; their ability to connect as they do is primarily because they are both of specific temperaments that allow them to be more emotionally accessible to the other. Fielding, according to the narrator, believes that â€Å"[t]he world†¦is a globe of men who are trying to reach one another and can best do so by the help of good will plus culture and intelligence† (62), and we are told that this is only because, unlike many of his fellows, Fielding has had ample time away from the â€Å"herd† of the English. He is not without prejudice or assumptions about non-English peoples. However, even when Aziz and Fielding’s emotional connection is strained by an ignorant co mment—like when Fielding implies Aziz, â€Å"an obscure Indian, had no right to have heard of Post Impressionism† (66-67)—the obvious underlying â€Å"good will† to both of their intentions softens the blow of their fumbles. If not for this perceptiveness, or indeed the willingness to perceive the character of the other as opposed to the stereotype of the other, both Fielding and Aziz could easily have written the other off as just another Anglo-Indian or just another native Indian. For his part, Aziz, who is generally unimpressed with Anglo-Indians, is eager to meet Fielding, as he perceives in Fielding a â€Å"true courtesy† and a â€Å"good heart† (60). This is unconventional for Anglo-Indians, and it is the continued emphasis on Fielding’s unconventionality and optimism about personal relations that attracts Aziz (67); Fielding is unconventionally willing to be vulnerable around Aziz—in a subtle way. Allowing an eager Aziz to assist him with his collar stud, for example, dispels a tension that might otherwise exist in a new meeting between any other Anglo-Indian and Indian. Aziz, of â€Å"so emotional a people,† appreciates and even idolizes this tendency in Fieldin g (65). While Fielding shows his prejudice by recognizing the tendency as a stereotyped action of Indians in general, he also acknowledges the tendency as useful in â€Å"[dispensing] with preliminaries† and getting right to the intimacy of friendship (65). Aziz’s openness to this unconventional Anglo-Indian and Fielding’s appreciation of Aziz’s ice-breaking emotionality paves the way for a friendship that might not exist if either had been of the mind to accept the prevailing prejudices toward each other’s â€Å"type.† While both men manage to set aside those prejudices and expectations of either’s behavior for the sake of friendship, that friendship is in constant jeopardy of collapse. By the novel’s end, the conflict borne of differences in the display of emotions and intentions finally unravels, and both Fielding and Aziz concur that the friendship they once cultivated cannot continue as it once had (316). While this is potentially a regression into their stiffening creeds, the moments when both men were able to approach the other as a person rather than as a character of India or a character of England illustrate the positive, if not completely enduring effects of personal relations over creeds and beliefs.

Instrument Selection Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Instrument Selection Report - Assignment Example Overview of Learning Scenario A learning scenario is a prioritized description of a situation in learning, which is independent of any underlying pedagogical approach. The scenario describes an organization with the aim of ensuring the appropriation of precised set of skills, competence, and knowledge. The learning scenario in this case is a practical learning scenario. A practical learning scenario consists of descriptions followed by respective questions although the scenario could develop in stages with each stage having at least one question (Shepherd, 2011 ). Information may be presented with the use of various media elements such as texts but the described situation has to be relevant and realistic. In theory, various formats of questions could be employed in order to challenge learners about the situation being learned including the simple multi-choice questions. Any of the various theory formats are meant to determine the abilities of students in their capacity to answer vari ous forms of questions (Lejeune A., 2004). Learning Objectives In this learning scenario, the learning objectives involve the determination of the ability of students to answer various forms of questions. The objective includes expectations that lie within the outcome of the education program. The paper will establish the capacities that students have in handling questions in different forms as part of their assessment program within a practical learning scenario (Shepherd, 2011 ). Analyzed Tool The American Psychological Association (2013) provides information on a code prepared by a joint committee for testing practices as a way of ensuring that there is enough observation of fairness among test takers in education. Code of Fair Testing Practices provides guidance in the development and selection of tests. It also provides guidance in the administration and score determination in tests and goes to an extent of ensuring good reporting and interpretation of test results in order to keep the test takers fairly informed. The code ensures fairness in test taking and provides grounds for the test takes to view their test results positively in terms of fairness. Various tools of assessing students in the practical learning scenario include concept maps, concept tests, knowledge surveys, exams, oral presentations, poster presentations, peer review, portfolios, rubrics, and written reports. The assessment of students in a learning scenario can be done with the use of any of these ten assessment tools. Concept maps involve diagramming techniques in which case students are assessed on how well they can see pictures. This kind of assessment could also include the way students can interpreted elements in such pictures as well as such maps (Numeracy Infusion Course for Higher Education , 2013). The concept map involve a diagram made of hierarchical nodes, which are labeled with concepts with the nodes linked using directional lines, and elements arranged from a general to specific scope. Students are assessed on how best they can link elements within the conceptual map (Numeracy Infusion Course for Higher Education , 2013). Concept tests involve conceptual questions that are based on multiple choices. These questions are mainly useful in the context of large classes in terms of student number. This technique is mainly used in lecture settings where the instructor may decide

Dr. Frederick Banting and he's achievements in medicine Essay

Dr. Frederick Banting and he's achievements in medicine - Essay Example Early in 1921, at the University of Toronto, Banting took his idea to Professor John MacLeod, who was a foremost figure in the study of diabetes in Canada. Bantings theories weren’t appreciated by him. Regardless of this Banting managed to encourage him that his plan was worth trying. Few equipment and ten dogs were given to Banting by MacLeod. Banting also got a helper, Charles Best, a medical student (Mulcahy 77). The experiment was set to start in the summer of 1921. He proved his idea correct and discovered insulin. At the University of Toronto in 1922 he was appointed as a Senior Demonstrator in Medicine. The same year he was chosen to the new Banting and Best Chair of Medical Research. Toronto General, the Hospital for Sick Children, and the Toronto Western Hospital also used his services as an Honorary Consulting Physician.   He researched  silicosis, cancer, and the mechanisms of drowning at the Banting and Best Institute. In his days no one had ever heard of insulin. By his hypothesis the world got to know that a  part of the pancreas formed a matter that could cure diabetes. He had two basic perceptions that discovered insulin. The first was that changing the pancreas to separate the islets of Langerhans may make a key substance. His second insight can be said as the cross field analogy. The earliest people to ever be given insulin were Frederick Banting and Charles Best - they gave each other insulin to observe if it was secure for humans. Fredrick Banting was invited by MacLeod, a trained biochemist to join the research team. This team still had to experiment this extract on humans. On January 23, 1922, they tried this extract on a 14-year-old boy dying of diabetes, at Toronto General Hospital. They gave the boy an extract that Collip had prepared and purified from an ox pancreas. He was the very first human to have given

Human evolution Essay Example for Free

Human evolution Essay Australopithecus apheresis separated humans directly from other primates because they walked upright. There is a huge evolutionary connection between brain size and bipedalism, Australopithecus and our other ancestors brain size was increased because of a change in their diets. Before, our relatives were strict herbivores until they became bipedal and ate meat because it was more available. Which meant that our early ancestors had to run to catch there food, thus increased their brain size because their brains were used eating vegetables. Natural selection has played an important role human evolution. Mutations and natural selections such as change in pigmentation and bacteria inside our body have to help us survive. Random mutations occur in our DNA that can befit, harm or do nothing. Natural selection happens in evolution to help our ancestors to adapt their surroundings. For instance, humans lost their body hair to free themselves of external parasites that infest fur. Over the time of evolution our ancestors body lost what it didnt need and kept what it need. As our ancestors started to move bipedal their body naturally selected to devolve there opposable toe. This was an advantage because our ancestors could run faster and have better alignment with their skeleton. Other natural selection happened over the time of evolution that devolved bodys and evolved bodies. The discovery of controlling of fire was the rising point of human evolution and culture, fires helped humans cook food and gives them comfort. According to James, Steven a Professional form the university of Chicago, the first clam for the earliest evidence of a controlled fire was by a member of a homo that dates back from 1. 7 million years ago. There is justified evidence that early humans behaviour and diet changed when they learned to control fire. The discovery of fire by early human let them say active in night-time hours. A professor from Harvard university claims as early human used fire for cooking food it also expanded and developed their brains because they were allowing more complex carbohydrates in to their bodies. Eating cooked food let our ancestors have more time for them because they were no longer trying to chew on a hard plant allay trying to gain calories from it. When our ancestors starts to cook their food their teeth, jaws, digestive traps and sexual consistencys started to shrink, all of these changes stated happening about 1. 8 million years ago, additionally this is more evident on the Homo erectus. As food became less of a concern to early human, weapons became more sophisticated. When early humans starts using tool evolution helped advance the development and size of their brains. Evolution gave our ancestors an advantage over chimpanzee, muscles that that chimpanzees lack. Humans have thicker fingers with wider heads, making it easier for humans to hold on to objects and throw them more accurately compared to chimpanzees hands. Although, hominid the australopithecine had small sized brains compared to the chimpanzee, they tried very often to cut through tough animal skin to take the meat of the bones, but this makes sense because the australopithecine was still a tree climbing animal. The great advance in stone tools happened around the time of the Homo erectus. The Homo erectus was the first of our ancestors to carry tools around, instead of dropping them after using them, like the australopithecines. Plus, the Homo erectus brain had grown over the time of evolution to three times the size on contrast to the australopithecines. As tools use evolved, communication and language was generated. As our ancestors more and more tools, their hands were occupied while they were hunting and couldnt use gesture so they evolved communication. In order for the early humans to survive, they need to co-operate. For instance, the group was sleeping and on human was chosen to stay awake and wants to wake the group up because a woolly mammoth was rear the group, that individual would need to explain what he wants the group to comprehend. The theory of Evolution is a justified and straightforward; it has been extensively studied and supported by all modern science. Creationism in my opinion on the other hand is completely a bunch of lies, faith does not give you answers, and it only asks you to stop asking question. There is no possible way to test creationism, there for believers accept it as the truth. DNA proves that all cells on earth are someway genetically related, for instance humans are 99. 8 the same genetic code as chimpanzees. Evolution happened over millions and millions of year. Creationism states that someone was told to searching out our planet for 8. 7 million place them aboard to Noahs ark. In my opinion I believe evolution didnt over night or the human race was created in one day by a supernatural being because it has been proving with our technology and our discoverys of fossil records that evolution happen because of natural selections. Creationism is for people that dont care about anthropology, sociology and phycology. People that believe in evolution usually are people that dont want go to church and believe in god. Religion celebrates death while evolution celebrates life.

Successes and Failures of Signals Intelligence :: essays research papers

SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE The United States must be prepared to deploy against sophisticated and unsophisticated adversaries on a moments notice. The enemy may have little concern for the Hague Convention, which seek to limit collateral damage and noncombatant casualties. Signal Intelligence provides foreign data that analysts can collect, process and analyze into intelligence information. Whoever has the ability to control and exploit the electromagnetic spectrum, which ranges from zero to infinity, will know their enemies vulnerabilities, create opportunities, achieve tactical surprise, and result in mission accomplishment. Considerations such as successful and unsuccessful collection in Signal Intelligence will be a tremendous factor in planning and the execution of U.S. military operations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are numerous accounts of the successful gathering of Signal Intelligence that prove to be of use. The rapid advancements in microelectronic technology forces the government to design and manufacture sophisticated new radars, airborne reconnaissance, and surveillance platforms; they offer superior capabilities over previously employed systems. Having accredited systems and networks, in accordance with Department of Defense guidance, will ensure that units are within regulations while collecting signals. To obtain the most beneficial information, analysts need to be properly trained in the latest and greatest data sets. Staffing 100% qualified personnel in strategic locations will lead to optimal performance in signals analysis; commanders should provide the capability of target redundancy with different forms to ensure that collection requirements are met. Lastly, understanding commander’s intent and the focus of effort are critical ingredients for su ccess. Despite the factors that lead to success, there are just as many failures, which need to be discussed. Failures are the temporary or possible permanent annihilation of the ability of a mechanism to perform its required purpose. The number one failure in signal intelligences is bureaucracy. All of the policies, guidelines, rules, procedures, course of actions, and laws, create so much red tape, that signal analysts cannot do their jobs, which is to collect, process, or analyze foreign intelligence information. Once the analyst work through the political rubbish, the opportunity for collecting Signal Intelligence may have disappeared. Units that try to use lethargic and robust radars against state of the art Electronic Security will provide marginal data if any; the Electronic Security provides firewalls, secure logins, and offers protection resulting from measures that are designed to deny unauthorized persons access to information. Some radars have the ability to use passive tracking , which means that there is no target illumination by the tracking system.