Bigfoot Language: The Debate Continues 

BigfootForestOn our first “Bigfoot Thursday” video review I wandered into the controversial subject of whether Bigfoot are capable of speech or not.

I recently read an article that may provide another clue that brings us closer to the truth. Please keep in mind that research is ongoing, so that a  “conclusion” we reach at this point may change drastically as a result of further research. I just like to mull over these things which is why I’m sharing it here.

BigfootThreesieAre Humans Born Understanding the Tenets of Language?

The research I’m discussing here came from a collaboration between Northeastern University in Boston and the International School of Advanced Studies in Italy. Professor Iris Berent represented Northeastern while Dr. Jacques Mehler represented the Italian school. (Dr. David Gomez is cited as being the study’s first author.)

As I understand it, the premise of this study was based on the notion that human babies are born with an intrinsic understanding of sound combinations, sounds upon which most human languages are based.

The author of the article for Science Daily explained it this way, “While many languages have words that begin by bl (e.g., blando in Italian, blink in English, and blusa in Spanish), few languages have words that begin with lb. Russian is such a language (e.g., lbu, a word related to lob, “forehead”), but even in Russian such words are extremely rare and outnumbered by words starting with bl.

Linguists have suggested that such patterns occur because human brains are biased to favor syllables such as bla over lba. In line with this possibility, past experimental research from Dr. Berent’s lab has shown that adult speakers display such preferences, even if their native language has no words resembling either bla or lba. But where does this knowledge stem from? Is it due to some universal linguistic principle, or to adults’ lifelong experience with listening and producing their native language?”

Where indeed.

BigfootTwosieTesting Phase

So the scientists began to study how young babies perceive language. They used a “silent, non-invasive technique” called near-infrared spectroscopy that could measure the brain activity in the babies’ cortex, or gray matter, as they listened to sounds.

The scientists discovered that the babies did react differently to “good” sounding words, versus “bad” sounding words. Per Dr. Berent’s earlier research, this result coincides with how the adults in her study reacted.

The study babies were so young they hadn’t learned words and hadn’t even begun babbling. Yet their brains clearly reacted to linguistic patterns.

This result showed the scientists that humans are born with “the basic, foundational knowledge about the sound pattern of human languages.”

BigfootOnesieSo What About Bigfoot?

Well, while this study indicates humans have this inborn ability to recognize linguistic sounds, so far, no other great (or minor) ape has shown this ability to create language the way that we do.

Would we even be able to do this kind of delicate research on Bigfoots? Where would we find their babies?

I don’t think we need to find Bigfoot babies and conduct this research on them. In my opinion, these animals aren’t as evolved as we are and in combination with some other physiological impediments (cervical vertebrae insufficient to hold the nerves required to coordinate speech with breathing), I think it’s highly unlikely that Bigfoots actually “talk,” at least not in a formal language like humans do.

I’m sure they make noises and use sign language to communicate with other Bigfoots, as other apes do, but the day they start speaking something as lovely and musical as the Italian or French language, well, that’s the day I turn into a monkey’s uncle! LOL!

What do you think?

References: 

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140408122316.html

The Bigfoot onesies can be found over here on Etsy for sale – I am not affiliated with this seller, nor do I benefit by recommending her products in any way. They’re just cute.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125455164/bigfoot-baby-bodysuit-screen-printed?ref=br_feed_25

 

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