Available online
Description
Barry Smith argues that language is out most important uniquely human attribute. It doesn't just help us communicate it helps us to think. He makes the case for the distinctiveness of human languag...e against the limited signalling systems of other animals. He looks at Noam Chomsky's idea of a universal grammar - that there is something in the human brain that gives us an innate ability to produce language from very early in our lives. And he talks to experts on other intelligent animals - Prof. Nicola Clayton and Prof. Robin Dunbar - to ask how human language and imagination compares with that of birds and primates.
Barry Smith argues that language is out most important uniquely human attribute. It doesn't just help us communicate it helps us to think. He makes the case for the distinctiveness of human languag...e against the limited signalling systems of other animals. He looks at Noam Chomsky's idea of a universal grammar - that there is something in the human brain that gives us an innate ability to produce language from very early in our lives. And he talks to experts on other intelligent animals - Prof. Nicola Clayton and Prof. Robin Dunbar - to ask how human language and imagination compares with that of birds and primates.
| Series: | A history of ideas |
|---|---|
| First transmission date: | 2015-01-22 |
| Original broadcast channel: | BBC Radio 4 |
| Published: | 2015 |
| Rights Statement: | Rights owned or controlled by The Open University |
| Restrictions on use: | This material can be used in accordance with The Open University conditions of use. A link to the conditions can be found at the bottom of all OU Digital Archive web pages. |
| Duration: | 00:11:00 |
| Note: | Radio 4 version |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Melvin Rickarby |
| Presenter: | Barry Smith |
| Contributors: | Barry Smith; Nicola Clayton; Robin Dunbar |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Production number: | AUDA850B |
| Available to public: | no |
