1. Inflection is not a measure of primitiveness:
* Inflection is a grammatical feature where words change their form based on their function in a sentence (e.g., tense, number, case).
* "Primitive" is a misleading term. All languages, regardless of age or complexity, are equally sophisticated systems of communication.
2. Language evolution is dynamic:
* Languages change constantly, and inflection is one aspect that can evolve over time.
* Languages can gain or lose inflections. For example, English has lost many inflections compared to its ancestor, Proto-Germanic.
* Some languages, like Mandarin Chinese, have very little inflection, while others, like Latin or Finnish, have highly inflected systems.
3. Inflection can be influenced by various factors:
* Historical contact: Languages can borrow inflections from other languages they come into contact with.
* Grammaticalization: Inflection can arise through the grammaticalization of independent words or phrases.
* Typological tendencies: Certain language families or types may have a greater tendency towards inflection than others.
Instead of viewing inflections as a marker of primitiveness, consider them as a feature that can contribute to the complexity and expressive power of a language.
Here are some possible explanations for why some early languages might have been more inflected:
* Emphasis on word order: Inflection can help reduce the reliance on word order to convey grammatical information.
* Flexibility: Inflection can allow for greater flexibility in expressing different grammatical relationships within a sentence.
* Historical development: Early languages might have evolved more inflections due to factors like grammaticalization or contact with other languages.
It's crucial to remember that language evolution is a complex process, and we can't simply assume that early languages were more inflected than modern languages. Each language has its unique history and features that make it interesting and valuable to study.