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语言起源于何时、何地,又是如何产生的,这些问题始终是人们关注和争论的焦点。新西兰奥克兰大学的阿特金森(Q. Atkinson)2011年在《科学》杂志上发表了一篇关于语言起源的文章,采用生物学上的理论与方法,从音位多样性这一语言现象入手,最终得出“人类语言起源于非洲”这一论断。2011年,语言类型学会会刊发行专刊对阿特金森的文章进行集中的讨论;2012年,《科学》杂志也以专刊的形式发表多篇评论文章,对阿特金森所得出的论断提出一系列质疑;其中也包括阿特金森本人对部分质疑的集中回复。这场论争参与的学者之多、角度之广、影响之大在语言起源研究中并不多见;同时这场论争也带给我们诸多有益启示。基于此,本文对这场论争进行回顾和讨论,希望对日后的语言起源研究有所助益。
When, where and how languages originated, how they originated, these issues have always been the focus of attention and controversy. Q. Atkinson of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, published a 2011 article in the journal Science about the origins of language. Using biological theories and methods, starting with the linguistic phenomenon of phonemic diversity, Finally come to “human language originated in Africa ” this thesis. In 2011, the Language Type Society issue special issue issues a focused discussion of Atkinson articles; in 2012, Science also published a number of commentary articles in the form of special issues that put forward a series of assertions by Atkinson Questioned; which also includes Atkinson himself concentrated reply to some of the questions. There are many scholars involved in this debate, the angle is wide, and the influence is rare in the study of the origin of language. At the same time, this controversy also brings us many useful enlightenments. Based on this, this article reviews and discusses the controversy in the hope that it will be helpful to the future study of linguistic origin.