Thought experiment: If a group of kids were isolated in an empty room (only have their needs tended to), will they develop their own language?

[bzcxx]

If a group of kids were isolated since birth till death (but have their needs tended to without any verbal communication), would the kids develop their own language to communicate with one another?

If so, how long do you think it will take for them to develop their own language?
What would they sound like? Will they ever develop verbal communication/language to effectively communicate among themselves?

[NamerOfStars]

I'd say yes- but it'd likely be pretty simple. You don't really get complex, multiply-nuanced languages without a real motivating force, either complex social interactions or a real need to HIDE complex ideas from other individuals, and you'd likely not see either of those among a group small enough to be part of such a social experiment.

The Kurganities will likely insist that no, you would, over enough time, see a language of full complexity, comparable to any other today, emerge, but the whole IDEA of the Kurgan hypothesis- or rather, the whole intellectual framework that makes it being taken seriously possible- is rooted is modern educational standards that're LUDICROUSLY overspecialized. The Kurgan language (word of warning: calling it "Kurgan" pisses them off to NO END; don't do that unless you're ready for the arguments that'll ensue) works, from a purely linguistic perspective. But it makes NO sense from a historical or psychological one. And since reality doesn't exist only in the form of its individual components, the whole idea falls apart as soon as you zoom out. It's the equivalent of saying that you can predict the behavior of the ocean from extremely intense study of a single drop of water.

[D_Bone_Steak]

This is actually interesting. I've heard of feral kids and they had speech problems their entire life. Seems if they don't learn during that younger age range, it's extremely difficult for them later to learn.

My best guess is that they'd develop basic grunts or the beginning of language, but I'm not sure how far it would go without something to copy other than just each other.

[Rosexøxø]

Yes.

simply put.. that’s what kids at the toddler stages do-

For the most part, needs are met. In the toy areas:

They cry; laugh; point; shriek; yell; stomp; laugh; pull; tug; hold; and a bunch more I’m sure, but can’t come up with at the moment.

Kids aren’t ‘surviving,’ but they develop major social skills in being around each other. For their own world of toys and such. When they got older they’d continue or modify their language and transition from toys to more complex items that bring laughter, pleasure, joy, bonding, and brain stimulation.

Adults had their language back in “cave-men” era days, and still socialized. They were like toddlers with more extreme “toys” and survival on the brain. Adults now are like a modern people with *certain needs met,* when compared to their earlier ancestors.

In any scenario, those who engage each other frequently, will in fact, develop an understanding, with only an expected level of confusion and curiosity that always lingers.

My answer: I have no doubt, yes, they certainly would.

[PetiteBabe64]

If you Put a White American baby In Afghan and it grows up in Afghanistan family does the baby Learn Afghan language I doubt it. More likely going learn English they Have thoughts and That will be English thoughts. I’m English have been Since I was born.

[bzcxx]

Yes… of course if you put a white American baby in Afghan, he/she will learn to speak Afghan.

[bzcxx]

Take a look at Indian or African or even Chinese babies adopted by American families. They all speak proper American English.

[PetiteBabe64]

And You think Those white American babies will Think afghan thoughts never Thinking English thoughts?

[bzcxx]

Depends on how old they were when adopted. If they were adopted at birth, they’d think in Afghan and never learn to speak English unless exposed to the language. I think that’s a given.

[bzcxx]

If a baby was adopted at an age where he already has some basic English vocabulary, he might think in English. However, as the years go by and he learns Afghan, he’ll be more proficient at Afghan as he would be in English.

[Saltystardust]

Most likely. There's a girl named Oxana Malaya, who was raised by dogs, she learned to communicate with the dogs and the dogs knew how to communicate with her. She's still alive today, she eventually learned to speak a bit but sadly won't able to live own her own.

[Anonymous]

When I was 13 watching with my cousin. We were left unsupervised for long periods by our parents especially at weekends. We statrted masturbating together at the start but it became clear to each other that we were more intrested in watching each other than the porn, we practiced kissing, oral and handjobs and eventually full sex. Early on I had a problem with premature ejaculation and it took a while for us to learn what made her cum but at the time I was sble to perform two or three times.

[HorggleThorp]

I would say so.


My sister and I were isolated to some extent because no one liked us. (Not saying that to get sympathy) We are identical twins and we formed our own, partial language and ended up needing speech therapy because of it.

[purplepoppy]

Humans have such a strong natural instinct for language they'd develop one without much trouble. It might not be Shakespeare but it would allow sufficient communication.

[VanillaSalt]

What is language? Words? Grunts? Sounds? Looks? If you mean words… it would take generations to have words for everything. Language is a learned behavior.

[Whatthefluff]

I don't think they'll come up with a complex language but they will certainly come up with ways to communicate that, to an outsider, might not always be comprehended.

[BlueScorpio]

Yes but it won't be full developed one like ours. Might be something totally different, like touching, sounds, looks etc.

[Drumlin2001]

They would form a way of communicating, it wouldn't be as developed, would probably be as much signals as words.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

I strongly believe they will if given enough time.

[Iron_Man]

No they are old enough to have their own language already taught by the parents

[Bethany22]

Interesting idea!