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16. Some ecological properties of language development

Abstract

The formation of distinct languages and distinct species, and the proof that these have developed through a gradual process, are curiously parallel, as argued by one of the founding fathers of the comparative method, Schleicher (1861). Although the notion of gradualness has been relaxed more recently in evolutionary biology as well as in historical linguistics, the genealogical line that can be established and the persistence of systems with modification both in the historical development of languages and in biological speciation, as manifested in the continuation as well as the individuation, are notoriously similar. Never-theless, whereas the evolution of species and the evolution of language are identical in form, their fundamental causes are different. There is no convincing evidence, for example, that human language has developed from less advanced to more complex stages in any sense. The few unfortunate attempts that have been made to try and show that language indeed moved from primitive towards more advanced stages, have failed. As shown by Joseph (2004), evolutionary theories of languages go back a few thousand years. During the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, authors tried to find explanations for language change in climate, topography, or attitude. Thus, Whitney (1904: 84–85) assumed that least effort, laziness, or carelessness might be the cause for language change. The research of William Labov and other sociolinguists has shown that neither uncultivated nor careless speakers are the “corrupters” of language, and that instead centrally located individuals play a quintessential role in the transition of innovations in, for example, American metropoles. At the same time, there are a number of interesting parallels between the historical development of biological systems and languages, as argued below. These involve the speed with which changes may occur, the degree of genetic and typological diversity in some areas as opposed to others, and so-called self-organising principles.

Abstract

The formation of distinct languages and distinct species, and the proof that these have developed through a gradual process, are curiously parallel, as argued by one of the founding fathers of the comparative method, Schleicher (1861). Although the notion of gradualness has been relaxed more recently in evolutionary biology as well as in historical linguistics, the genealogical line that can be established and the persistence of systems with modification both in the historical development of languages and in biological speciation, as manifested in the continuation as well as the individuation, are notoriously similar. Never-theless, whereas the evolution of species and the evolution of language are identical in form, their fundamental causes are different. There is no convincing evidence, for example, that human language has developed from less advanced to more complex stages in any sense. The few unfortunate attempts that have been made to try and show that language indeed moved from primitive towards more advanced stages, have failed. As shown by Joseph (2004), evolutionary theories of languages go back a few thousand years. During the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, authors tried to find explanations for language change in climate, topography, or attitude. Thus, Whitney (1904: 84–85) assumed that least effort, laziness, or carelessness might be the cause for language change. The research of William Labov and other sociolinguists has shown that neither uncultivated nor careless speakers are the “corrupters” of language, and that instead centrally located individuals play a quintessential role in the transition of innovations in, for example, American metropoles. At the same time, there are a number of interesting parallels between the historical development of biological systems and languages, as argued below. These involve the speed with which changes may occur, the degree of genetic and typological diversity in some areas as opposed to others, and so-called self-organising principles.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface ix
  4. Figures xiii
  5. Maps xv
  6. Tables xvii
  7. Part I. The comparative method
  8. 1. Explaining similarities 3
  9. 2. Explaining sound change 23
  10. 3. Classification and subclassification techniques 59
  11. 4. Morphosyntactic changes 93
  12. 5. Semantic change 115
  13. 6. Internal reconstruction 141
  14. 7. Language-internal variation 153
  15. Part II. The linguistic manifestation of contact
  16. 8. Borrowing 179
  17. 9. Pidginisation and creolisation 213
  18. 10. Syncretic languages 237
  19. 11. Language contraction and language shift 253
  20. 12. Language contact phenomena and genetic classification 265
  21. Part III. Studying language change in a wider contex
  22. 13. Language typology and reconstruction 283
  23. 14. Remote relationships and genetic diversity on the African continent 307
  24. 15. Language and history 333
  25. 16. Some ecological properties of language development 347
  26. References 373
  27. Appendix 407
  28. Language and language family index 409
  29. Subject index 419
Historical Linguistics and the Comparative Study of African Languages
This chapter is in the book Historical Linguistics and the Comparative Study of African Languages
https://doi.org/10.1075/z.161.19ch16

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface ix
  4. Figures xiii
  5. Maps xv
  6. Tables xvii
  7. Part I. The comparative method
  8. 1. Explaining similarities 3
  9. 2. Explaining sound change 23
  10. 3. Classification and subclassification techniques 59
  11. 4. Morphosyntactic changes 93
  12. 5. Semantic change 115
  13. 6. Internal reconstruction 141
  14. 7. Language-internal variation 153
  15. Part II. The linguistic manifestation of contact
  16. 8. Borrowing 179
  17. 9. Pidginisation and creolisation 213
  18. 10. Syncretic languages 237
  19. 11. Language contraction and language shift 253
  20. 12. Language contact phenomena and genetic classification 265
  21. Part III. Studying language change in a wider contex
  22. 13. Language typology and reconstruction 283
  23. 14. Remote relationships and genetic diversity on the African continent 307
  24. 15. Language and history 333
  25. 16. Some ecological properties of language development 347
  26. References 373
  27. Appendix 407
  28. Language and language family index 409
  29. Subject index 419
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