Descartesí Observations on Language
Ö[no humans] are incapable of arranging various words together and forming an utterance
Öwhereas there is no other animalÖthat can to the like
Descartes asserts that only humans use language.
How can we evaluate the claim?
We need to understand what a human language is and compare it with the communication systems which animals use.
Öit patiently requires very little reason to learn to be able to speak
Learning a language natively is not the same as learning arithmetic.
While we must be taught arithmetic, or at least consciously study arithmetic, no one teaches us to speak nor do we consciously study our language (until after we have learned it).
Learning a language is much more like learning to walk.
It is something that humans do as part of the process of maturing into adults.