THE DIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND THE MOTOR THEORY
ABSTRACT
The theory is that the structures (phonology, lexicon and
syntax) of language in general, and of particular languages, are
directly modelled on the neural systems for controlling motor
action. But languages differ widely from each other in these
aspects said to be modelled on the neural motor system. There are
many different phonemic systems (the distinctive speech sounds
used in different languages, including phonemic use of tones),
obviously very large differences in lexicons (the words used in
different languages), and equally large differences in syntaxes
(word order, the use of inflections, the formation of compound
words, agreement between different parts of speech, gender). If
all languages are said to have the same origin, that is, by
modelling on neural motor systems, how is it that languages
differ so much from each other? The first step in attempting to
reconcile the motor theory with observed diversity of language is
to examine the nature of the diversity. What is the extent and
nature of the differences between languages. What is the
orthodox or most common explanation of the differences between
present-day languages? How satisfactory are the existing
explanations? We have to recognise that the diversity of
languages must come from somewhere, either from their first
origin (whatever that may have been) or if their first origin was
single and uniform from processes of change in language, which
led to the multiplication of different languages, to arrive at
the state that we see today.
Full text
[For an introspective account see Mind space]