What Language Would Man Naturally Speak?

Evening Star, Issue 6916, 1 June 1885, Page 3

What Language Would Man Naturally Speak?

A few years ago a society of eminent men in Paris' dismissed tho question “V\ hat language would a child naturally speakif never taught?” The devout Catholics were of opinion that the Hebrew language would he spoken in 1 these circumstances. One scientist was of opinion that some form of the Chinese language would he tho natural tongtie. Twenty different results were predicted At hist it was decided to test the matter, and a committee was appointed to carry out the experiment. Two infants were procured, and put in the charge of a deaf and dumb woman who lived in the Alps, and made a living by rearing chickens and tending sheep. The woman was given strict Injunctions to allow no one to speak to these children, and, as her cottage was some miles distant from any neighbor, the circumstances surrounding the experiment were very favorable. Years rolled on and many of the members of tho society had lost sight of this interesting experiment. Some members of the committee died, and there was great danger of the results of this wonderful teat being lost to the world, Fortunately two of the members of tho committee kept faithful watch on the case, and when the children were six years old brought thorn, with their nurse, into a meeting of the s'U'arita. Every member was on the tiptoe of expectation as to the result. Not one word could either of tho children utter ; their only form of language was a wonderfully good imitation of the crowing of a cock, or the cackling of a hen, or tho bleating of a sheep, Tho predictions of science were totally upset by a practical experiment.