Comments on: Now why haven’t I seen this anywhere? http://www.letterneversent.com/now-why-havent-i-seen-this-anywhere/839/ Tell me when to go. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Prentiss Riddle http://www.letterneversent.com/now-why-havent-i-seen-this-anywhere/839/comment-page-1/#comment-419 Prentiss Riddle Tue, 04 Feb 2003 02:27:12 +0000 http://www.letterneversent.com/index.php/archives/2003/01/01/now-why-havent-i-seen-this-anywhere/#comment-419 "Four distinct sounds" is not "language ability". I'm sure one could train a cat or dog to make "four distinct sounds" to get four distinct treats. Language requires grammar, syntax, and the creation of novel utterances. Even Koko and other signing apes barely start to get into the bottom end of this realm, and never develop the vocabulary or grammatical sophistication even matching those of a small child. Sigh. When will the press start to get this stuff right? “Four distinct sounds” is not “language ability”. I’m sure one could train a cat or dog to make “four distinct sounds” to get four distinct treats. Language requires grammar, syntax, and the creation of novel utterances. Even Koko and other signing apes barely start to get into the bottom end of this realm, and never develop the vocabulary or grammatical sophistication even matching those of a small child.

Sigh. When will the press start to get this stuff right?

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