Language, a living organism.
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Tanja Collet-Najem
Proposal
In this presentation, language will be considered a complex organism, that, not unlike animals, and humans, is a living entity that can evolve. As an introduction, we will present the work of Davies et al. (1987) who examine some of Franz Bopp's ideas about comparative historical linguistics and how this German linguist (1791-1867) articulated the idea that language is an organism. The history of languages and how they came to be will also be examined. Further, we will look at how a language survives, evolves, and adapts to circumstances, and how it, like all living things, can die as well. This is where Darwin's ideas on evolution and the survival of the fittest will be examined (Wallace, 1889). We will look at Canada's linguistic ecosystem, where English and French, have behaved as invasive species towards the Indigenous languages, but are also themselves engaged in a struggle for survival. Essentially, the life cycle of languages will be examined: how they are born, develop, give birth to new languages and how they eventually die.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Language, a living organism.
In this presentation, language will be considered a complex organism, that, not unlike animals, and humans, is a living entity that can evolve. As an introduction, we will present the work of Davies et al. (1987) who examine some of Franz Bopp's ideas about comparative historical linguistics and how this German linguist (1791-1867) articulated the idea that language is an organism. The history of languages and how they came to be will also be examined. Further, we will look at how a language survives, evolves, and adapts to circumstances, and how it, like all living things, can die as well. This is where Darwin's ideas on evolution and the survival of the fittest will be examined (Wallace, 1889). We will look at Canada's linguistic ecosystem, where English and French, have behaved as invasive species towards the Indigenous languages, but are also themselves engaged in a struggle for survival. Essentially, the life cycle of languages will be examined: how they are born, develop, give birth to new languages and how they eventually die.