From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!hellgate.utah.edu!csn!copper!dschiff Thu Dec 26 23:57:37 EST 1991
Article 2319 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: dschiff@copper.denver.colorado.edu (David Michael Schiff)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Scaled up slug brains
Message-ID: <2083@copper.Denver.Colorado.EDU>
Date: 20 Dec 91 19:50:40 GMT
References: <12781@pitt.UUCP> <45115@mimsy.umd.edu> <4000@litchi.bbn.com>
Organization: University of Colorado at Denver
Lines: 17

In article <4000@litchi.bbn.com> cbarber@bbn.com (Chris Barber) writes:
>...
>of language "specialization" are more likely the result of the brain adapting
>to language use as opposed to their being totally prewired for language. 
>...

The brain is very flexible.  The other night there was an interesting
program dealing with language acquisition in children (I think it
was Scientific American Frontiers).  Behavioral research seemed to
indicate that children are prewired to learn language, but that
the brain doesn't seem to care what form that language takes.
They could just as easily learn sign language as verbal communication,
and in one case that was studied the child learned both and used both
freely. Also, interestingly, Infants in a signing environment 
were found to "babble" with their hands.

their hands.  


