precocious child question

[zubird]

i'm not sure if this is a naive or n00b-ish sort of question, especially since i am not one of you fancy linguist types, but i've been wondering it for awhile; do they ("they" being the experts of the world) have any idea how many separate times language has developed? i'm not referring to the differentiation of English from other Germanic

Comments

[elitegrunt]

Well "they" do have an idea of how many separate language families have developed. You can see them on Ethnologue. I'm not entirely understanding what exactly your question is, though.

[zubird]

that definitely isn't what i was asking, i'm sorry that i worded the question confusingly. i suppose i was paying more attention to covering my ass in case somebody told me i was asking a dumb question and i obviously don't know anything.

[lotusbiosm]

Are you asking if language evolved independantly in different places at different times? And, if so, how many different times that happened. I don't know the answer, but someone here probably does.

[arbutus]

I don't know the answer, but someone here probably does.

Actually, no they don't, LOL... some of the comments below explain why that is better than I could.

[lotusbiosm]

Well, I meant someone probably knew what the more prelevant theories were.

[zubird]

yes, that is precisely what i'm asking, and how that sort of thing goes about happening. i guess that is the sort of thing that can only be theoretical, though, so i'm asking for theories. i'm sorry if the question was worded badly, though.

[imluxionverdin]

My understanding is that "they", i.e. the linguists, have different theories. They are very controversial, and no one knows the answer

[sacundim]

... do they ("they" being the experts of the world) have any idea how many separate times language has developed?

No.

[zubird]

aha, thank you.

[mad_maudlin]

Everyone has the right to be curious