The Science of Language

Well howdy there fellow students and professor. So how about this Derek Bickerton guy, neat eh?, although I don't entirely understand his vocabulary, (that is what wikipedia is for,) and I don't always get the gist. My quest coming into this class was based in my curiosity at the similarities between Ghana pidgin and Hawaiian pidgin and this guy is walking me through it. So I am very pleased. Where to start? He is on a quest for the substrate of the languages. As he says on page 68, had he successfully found a case in one of the African grammers which demonstrated Guyanese grammer, what would that have accomplished? There are still many other Creoles that wouldn't have those roots. If one were to discover the roots of all the different grammers, that still would not explain the similarities. Absolutely titillating the way he keeps throwing Hawaii into the mix. I read ahead, one of the chapters about Hawaii, and in it he states that Hawaiian pidgin is not a language which was assimilated to conform to European dialects. It is the opposite, European assimilated to Hawaiian because Hawaiians were the dominant culture when Europeans started coming around. So my original interest is flaring up. :) I'll say it again and make a clarification. I don't speak pidgin, but I do sometimes speak with pidgin intonations, and when I do, lots o white folks don't know what the hell I said. I didn't change the grammer, I didn't change the words, usually, just the tones and folks don't get it. My friend from Ghana, however, did get it, and granted lots of white folks do to. He said the same thing about me. He has an accent. He isn't talking pidgin, but the pidgin accent is the same. He said lot of folks don't know what he is saying. What the hell is going on here people? Ok. So here is my next query, Derek B. couldn't find African roots for Guyanese grammer; is there a universal knowledge which tells humans how to break it down so that different dialects are mutually intelligible. This query says nothing to the fact that all pidgins are different yet, perhaps the way we see objects in relation to time, place and meaning trancends the culturally specific way of interpreting it. Ok. That seems simple, it is simple. Where do intonations fit in? Ok enough on that rant.... There's more..... Keep reading

Greetings class mates and professor. How are we all doing tonight? I have been studying bones for the last 6 hours on top of two hours of organic chem and am half crazy. My name is Erin. I have spent my life living all over the united states. Travel is in my blood. It is disappointing to me that it isn't so easy to get into Mexico anymore. No more strolling across the border. I love staying active. I have a fascination with dirt bikes and even go so far as to say they saved my life. Staying active is my ticket though. Swimming, biking, working hard, playing with babies, and studying my tail off(going for a BofA&S) , random trips into randomness, it all keeps me vitalized. I will try to keep this short. I really dig the content of this class. The implications, both intuitive and conscious, which we discover about the mind via understanding how we use language are useful for so many reasons. The reasons at the top of my list would be, 1) Effective communication will be enhanced. This is a constant goal of mine. I incorporate conscious non-judgment into communication and thought as often as possible. I believe in the power of communication to heal the body and the mind. I believe communication is the ticket into the conscious and how we share it. Therefore learning how we use this immensely powerful tool must! show us intricacies of the human condition. It will enhance my ability to pick up languages and express/receive them. I really could go on and on.... Till the next post ! Aloha!