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The language or culture debate is interesting if you look at the evolutionary aspect of language and culture. The following is my definition of these two concepts:

Language is the ability to use speech to identify ideas and concepts. Culture is the religious, organizational, and cultural mores of a group of people.

According to primatologists (and some other scientists), human sapiens lived together in groups much like the baboons. The mated females and children were in the inner circle. The unmated females, older children, and males with prestige were in the next circle. The outriggers were the juvenile males. The beauty of this system was that the large predators (lions and such) would fight the more aggressive and testosterone-laden males. The whole purpose of this arrangement was to protect the future (pregnant females and babies).

When homo sapiens developed the ability to speak, their world changed because they could speak about ideas and concepts that were abstract. Prior to language, homo sapiens were primarily concerned with survival. It was not a world conducive to abstract ideas or even mathematics.

Communication through language allowed this group to think and survive. With language it was easier to go from a hunter society to a planting (more stable) society.

In comparison, the chimpanzees who did not develop language, have a society that protects the females and chases away strangers including strange chimpanzees. Even though evolutionary-wise they are cousins and did develop the opposable thumb because they did not develop the equipment for speaking, they live a very primitive life.

So the main idea is that language helped humans to vocalize their ideas. With the advent of language, it was easier to pass on survival techniques, hunting tips, and even housing tips.

The mechanics of language are also fascinating. How come homo sapiens have developed speech to such a sophisticated level, but other animals have not? Why did our survival depend on it? Or do other animals have language that we have not recognized yet?

Evolutionary speaking, we would not have been able to climb the top of the ladder without a few advantages. Without our brains, opposable thumbs, and speech, we have very little to help us with survivability. We have thin skins. We have to make coverings because we do not have fur. We have blunt teeth. We have to make weapons to defend ourselves. There are more animals that have better defensive skills than we have.

So when you think of yourself as on the top of the evolutionary chain, be grateful to that first ancestor that was able to speak instead of grunt.

Learn more about this author, Cyn Bagley.
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