Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 11:00:34 +0200 (EET DST)
From: Vadim Verenits <grimnes-AT-physic.ut.ee>
Subject: the origin of language


In this post i`d like to cover the ideas of N.J.Marr -a perfect example of
that is called the mythology in linguistics.
The very core of his teory is the representation of four elements ,
that should solve all the problems of linguistics, first of all , the
problem, connected with Saussure`s division between synchrony and
dyachrony ; second to it is a question of correlation between indoeuropean
languages family and others (among them scientifically provided Althaic
group).These fourfolded set is the combination of four elements, that
features the =B4phomems of proto-language:
1.Sol
2.Ber
3.Ron
4.Y`esh
I would point out that is a misleading to state that Marr`s phonems
represent a proto-language in our sence of this term.These "primodial
phonems" is  nothing else than a result of development of archaic sounds
articulated by our ancestors!!!!The whole idea of Marrism was to deny the
reality of proto-languages and to viciously attack those who believed in
(such people were called "Indo-Europeanists"no matter what they actually worked
 on).  The basis for the attack
was the claim that languages do not diverge over time, but rather
converge (or perhaps both).I should admit that this convergence was
regarded as completly the same with marxists dialectics(as such as Lenin
coined it out); that means it subordinates to the same laws of the
development,(the latter term was obiviously substitued by another ,
more applicable to marxist-leninist dogma-THE EVOLUTION .The evolution
in the dialectics of marxists mainly stands not for vulgar "the survival
of the fittest" but for "the merciless class struggle"!!!.
Marrism ,promoted by Stalin`s goverment stated that 3 basic types of
languages :
1.ideographic/phonematic , aflexive  (like Chinese)
2.agglunative (most of the Altaic , Turckic languages)
3.analytical (the modern English , French )
, correspond to diffirent stages of historical and economical development
and evolution. The first stage correlates with ancient slavedom; second
with feodal state and last one with capitalism.According to marrist
linguists , the basic task of marxist state is to provide the elaboration
of the new type of language,serving to the needs of communism.
This theory vaguely called =B4Marrism(it makes a rhyme with russian word
"marazm", that means "nonsense", "crap" even
"bullshit");the majority of worldwide known linguists (f.e R.Jacobson)
refered to this "linguistic" trend  as to "set of unproven statements,
created by profanating group of scholars", had been actively supported by
the goverment until Stalin critizied it somewhen in the 1949 year.