9.3 No language without chemistry.
Digging ever deeper to find the origins of language has occupied scientists of many generations. J.G.Miller (1978) has drawn up an inventory of the communicative processes between all forms of life, from cells to organisms and up to human organisations and institutions. Systems theory has shown that at various levels of evolution developmental histories repeat themselves . One is reminded of this when noticing the striking similarities between an early and a recent manifestation of life: the structure of desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and the structure of language (Hoffstadter 1979). It is in itself suggestive of continuing evolution that there is an analogy between a molecular-biological process of chemical communication and human language, both being the outcome of a neural evolutionary exchange in a human environment.
DNA is a compound with a truly meaningful structure. Its long molecular strand is a coded script. Molecular arrangements define a "meaning", like a chain of letters on a paper scroll. The lengthy molecule contains the information that is needed to guide the epigenetic development of a fertilized egg-cell into an adult individual. The individual-specific DNA is replicated in the nucleus of every cell in the developing organism. Via the egg-cells and sperm-cells DNA is passed on to the next generation. Goodwin saw the connection of embryogenesis with other cognitive processes such as language (Chapter 4). " ....the juxtaposition of embryogenesis and language is a clarification of the biological roots of generative processes. In linguistics, the aim of a generative grammar is relatively modest : to devise a set of operations whereby the surface structure of language is correctly generated. In embryogenesis, a generative theory must give some description whereby the adult form is generated step by step from the egg. The meaning of the knowledge contained within the egg becomes manifest gradually throughout development until the final details of its surface structures are fully unfolded and the organism enters into a relationship with its environment." (B.Goodwin 1976)
The analogy of a handbook or manual containing words and sentences has often been used to explain the generative process. This is a justified metaphor when the evolutionary origin of language is recognized.
The molecular precursors of present day DNA have been the very origin of life. Evolution still goes on. Molecular species continue to give birth to new life: new life-forms such as species of bacteriophages and viruses with their own forms of RNA, are still being created and modified. The creation of life and the evolution of life forms will go on as long as Earth will provide a sufficiently inviting and challenging environment.
Language, a recent newcomer since Earth's existence, is the fabric of human cooperation. Its emergence in evolution has been a significant factor in bringing homo sapiens to his position of dominance. The use of language has promoted cooperation by facilitating planning, evaluation and correction of intended purposes. As the endocrine and neural systems (NAD) coordinate functions within the organism, so the language system (VAD) has evolved as an integrator of the numerous institutions within human society. Damage to the VAD or the silencing of individuals participating in a vital dialogue is crippling to a developing society.
It is invalid to ask whether language is a man-made artifice or a biological phenomenon. It is of course both. The argument for language to be a human artifact is that it would not exist if man had not been there. But neither would the mongrel dog and the Dali-moustache be there. They are both 'natural' and 'unnatural'. The class of all languages, thorough-breds and moustaches belong in an inventory of biological topics. A particular dog, moustache or language may have features which are characteristic of a certain human producer or user. For that individual trait it certainly deserves the name artifact. There are also reasons however to view human institutions and inventions with the eye of the biologist. All forms of life have certain strategies in common: for growth, reproduction and survival. In this sense language may be considered an organism living in symbiosis with man. It can exist for a short while without man on paper and electronic recordings, and is a part of man's (man-made) environment. The symbiosis between language systems and man has been profitable for both parties.
The VAD has several fascinating features in common with the genetic system's DNA:
- a limited number of elements. The DNA molecule has only four nucleotides to choose from. Nevertheless the number of different successions of the nucleotides is limitless.
Language has
unlimited possibilities to combine speech sounds into words and phrases
a strictly limited selection of the endless number of possibilities, is called "a language"
since the selections that are exchanged between reproducing individuals of a species are called "genes", the equivalent of a language would be a number of connected genes, each coding for a particular physical or behavioural trait.
a language can exist in oral form only and be spoken by just a hundred individuals; just as a rare hereditary trait can be carried by only a few individuals.
a language can, in addition to an oral form, have a written counterpart that is in use with millions of people. Archaeologists sometimes find fossil evidence of "lost" languages, just like palaeontologists find fossil remains of ancient forms of life.
some languages are more successful than others
there are species and families of languages
the theories of the descent of languages and their mutual relationships give rise to much the same discussion as those about species and families of plants.
The conformity between linguistic structures and the genetic system of biology has inspired D. Hoffstatter (1979) to create his game of Typogenetics. The letter-game prepares the reader/player to understand molecular genetics. Reflections on this aspect of biochemistry close in on the essence of life: creation of new potential, and evolution towards higher efficiency.
There is a striking conformity between such evolutionary extremes as DNA: an ancient molecule that is the building stone of the genetic system for adaptation and defence (GAD), and language: an advanced verbal system of adaptation and defence. Other similarities have shown up at the intermediate layers or levels of the LAD and the NAD. The full significance of these conformities will be understood when more applications are discovered.