Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Martin on 14/06/2009 12:30:02

Title: Is language a technology?
Post by: Martin on 14/06/2009 12:30:02

Martin asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Question:

Is language a technology?

Language has evolved throughout human evolution and could we determine whether language is a technological evolution or otherwise?

What do you think?

Title: Is language a technology?
Post by: lyner on 14/06/2009 22:28:29

Or is it a culture?
Until recently, there was no actual technology involved i.e doing things with materials to achieve an end.

Title: Is language a technology?
Post by: neilep on 14/06/2009 22:33:17

Wouldn't 'technology' imply a manufactured apparatus to perform a task ?

Title: Is language a technology?
Post by: wanhafizi on 16/06/2009 08:23:06

It is called Memes.

Non biological things such as Ideas and Styles that evolved, get copied, replicates in biological environments.

I bet you'll be interested in this video below;

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/susan_blackmore_on_memes_and_temes.html (http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/susan_blackmore_on_memes_and_temes.html)

And language is an interesting Memes because it shaped how a human think about his world around him.

For example, Eskimos used 11 words to define what we called ice. So, in their point of view, frozen water have at least 11 distinctive features.