What is the "language instinct"?

What will be an ideal response?


Proposed by Stephen Pinker, this is the instinct of humans to speak the language of the group in which they live. It is not biologically programmed, because humans speak many different languages.

Anthropology & Archaeology

You might also like to view...

Trobriand chiefs don't have to concern themselves with beauty since their position insures a ready supply of females

Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

Anthropology & Archaeology

Is adolescent rebellion a cultural universal? Discuss the evidence supporting or refuting this idea.

What will be an ideal response?

Anthropology & Archaeology

The term osteology refers to the study of _________

a. bones b. muscles c. tissues d. organs

Anthropology & Archaeology

Ideally, taxonomic classification

a. reflects evolutionary relationships. b. is based on the presence of acquired characteristics. c. is always based solely on between-species behavioral similarities. d. reflects the current geographic distribution of species. e. is only applicable to nonhuman species.

Anthropology & Archaeology