I’ve heard anecdotes about things like children spontaneously developing their own languages even when completely deprived of language in their environment, which would weakly indicate the contrary position. Unfortunately, I don’t know whether to trust said anecdotes—can anyone corroborate?
There are examples of groups of deaf people developing languages together, but generally over a generation or two, and in large groups. The most prominent such case is Nicaraguan sign language.
That’s not an example of “completely deprived of language in their environment”—the article says “by combining gestures and elements of their home-sign systems …”
Yes, you are correct. There were pre-existing primitive sign systems that started off. It isn’t an example of language developing completely spontaneously.
There are examples of groups of deaf people developing languages together, but generally over a generation or two, and in large groups. The most prominent such case is Nicaraguan sign language.
That’s not an example of “completely deprived of language in their environment”—the article says “by combining gestures and elements of their home-sign systems …”
Yes, you are correct. There were pre-existing primitive sign systems that started off. It isn’t an example of language developing completely spontaneously.