Subject: Re: the origin of music?
From: sylvi macCormac (sylvi@istar.ca)
Date: Fri Jan 12 2001 - 00:46:36 EST
yeah!! more enlightening dialogue :) and you're talking about language and music
and perception. :) i prefer this to flies in my soup, though that too was very
interesting and educational. but you know i think i will be just a fly on this
wall and enjoy the sound of music / discussion :)
what was interesting about the 'sss' inside joke, was that once it was explained
the world might laugh along .... :) here's miling at you ... Canadrrr, eh ?
best wishes to your sister and her family :)
macCormac / sylvi
John Croft wrote:
> on 11/1/01 23:30, I. Sterling at yitzchok@u.washington.edu wrote:
>
> > Hi John.
>
> Hi Isaac. Nice to hear from you again.
>
> > On Thu, 11 Jan 2001, John Croft wrote:
> >
> >> 50 000 year old flutes are neither surprising nor evidence of any hardwired
> >> specialisation, since they date from well after the biological evolution of
> >> humans ceased, and well after the development of language (the most recent
> >> big evolutionary step),
> >
> > according to purely anatomical evidence; the exact emergence of language
> > in homo sapiens is a point of contention.
>
> Yes, I must admit I'm relying on received here -- nonetheless I do think it
> was probably the most recent major development in the evolution of homo
> sapiens sapiens (and a relatively late one at that compared to other
> adaptations), and the it probably predates anything we can properly call
> musical.
>
> >> upon which much of musical ability is parasitic.
> >
> > This looks like pure conjecture. I concede that it is true (for
> > example) that occurence of amusia commonly coincides with aphasia,
> > suggesting some correspondence between musical and lingusitic
> > abilities. However, I'm not aware of any evidence that conclusively
> > demonstrates that musical ability presupposes linguistic ability. If you
> > are, please enlighten me.
>
> No, I'm not: as I clicked the "send" button I contemplated adding "probably"
> or "arguably" to that sentence, but my neurons didn't fire quickly enough to
> do so in time. What I would say, however, that, taking into account the
> maxim of my favourite Yorkshireman, William of Occam, calling into service
> some aspects of linguistic ability is a better explanation of our certain
> parts of our musical competence that than the (unwarranted, in my opinion)
> postulation of a music module or some such innate specialisation.
>
> > always a pleasure to tangle with you John.
>
> And with you, Isaac.
>
> Best
> John
>
> _______________________________________
>
> http://pages.eidosnet.co.uk/john.croft/
> http://homepage.mac.com/castalia/
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