EITHER: `Describe the perceptual magnet effect and critically evaluate its implications or `If language is a universal human faculty, why are human languages so different?`

Exploring the Universality and Diversity

of Human Language

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Exploring the Universality and Diversity

of Human Language

Language is an all-important tool of mankind for expression . We think speak and write in languages . Indeed , our use of sophisticated mode of expression such as language is what distinguishes us from animals

Language is already very much a part of us , but we often take it for granted . We do not give it much thought and probably quite a few attempt to make sense out of its

nature and its complexities

Distinguished authorities in psychology , philosophy and linguistics support the concept of language as a universal human faculty . If it is not , why is it that despite little knowledge of language and its correct usage , children as young as two years , of any race or ethnicity , quickly learn to speak and understand any language they are exposed to

It is astonishing how thousands of various languages and dialects have evolved since the confusion at Babel in Genesis . The Ethnologue has listed more than six thousand (6 ,000 ) languages from all over the world (Grimes , 2001 . Note that we do not only refer to civilized languages and there could probably be more that have not been documented yet , or have not even been heard of by the civilized population (i .e . tribal languages . Now , with the innumerable modes of pronunciation and styles of language use , we can probably come up with a million varieties of languages

If language is a universal human faculty , why are human languages so different

Universality of Language

Even the scriptures provided some evidence to substantiate the concept that language is universal . Before the Tower of Babel incident , as cited in the book of Genesis , remember that mankind had one language . Ever since God intervened to cause confusion at Babel and men dispersed to various parts of the earth , human language have evolved into various kinds . Still , however , human languages are astoundingly similar ! In what way are human languages the same , and why

Kumar (1997 ) cited that children could learn almost any language with the right timing . Children learn at a remarkable rate if they are immersed in the language during their critical period for language development , which is usually between the age of two to five years . Such that at the age of six , they would have learned to use and understand about thirteen thousand (13 ,000 ) words (Dunbar , 1996 . Further children of average intellectual capacity learn about ten (10 ) new words a day by the time they reach their first birthday . If we have to do our math , this is the equivalent of a new word every 90 minutes of (their waking life (Dunbar , 1996

It is amazing how children learn a language in such a short time and only by hearing a few words and short sentences from their parents and others , they are able to come up with virtually many others , most of which even follow correct grammatical principles . There are no...