Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id KAA24236 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 23 Feb 2001 10:39:57 GMT Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745CA9@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Lesser genes than expected Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 10:39:27 -0000 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
As far as I understand it there are common elements to all human languages,
and certainly most european languages, with the exception of Basque, belong
to the same roots which would include Flemish and Dutch.
Cavalli-Sforza talks about this in his new book, which I see is climbing the
bestseller lists (amongst science books anyway) in the UK.
Vincent
> ----------
> From: Kenneth Van Oost
> Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2001 8:00 pm
> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Subject: Re: Lesser genes than expected
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Brent Silby
> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 11:02 PM
> Subject: Re: Lesser genes than expected
>
> It is true that once the brain 'connects itself up' new languages
> are harder to learn. After a certain age, the brain's neural net firms up
> well used connections, while the unused connections deteriorate. This, of
> course, is not to say that *no* new learning can be achieved. However,
> people will tend to find it easier to acquire information that fits in
> with the existing neural structure. For this reason, it could be the case
> that people find it easier to learn languages that are similar to their
> own native language (by this I mean languages that share a similar
> structure), while totally foreign languages are more difficult.
>
> << Is there anyone who knows if Dutch has some similar structure to
> ( all)
> others languages !?
> Or that Dutch has a structure in itself to learn other languages
> more easily
> and for example English do not !?
> Most peculiar by the way that Hollanders also speak Dutch but have
> problems
> learning Frensh !!
> Or is it all related to the history of the Flanders !?
> Just a question....
>
> Best,
>
> Kenneth
>
> ( I am, because we are)
>
>
>
>
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