Ashwathi Puravankara Menon Emory University Abstract Language is a biological entity; a genetically transmitted trait; an innate capacity that every human is born with. Assuming that this Chomskian view of a "genetic" Language is true, through this working paper, I hope to elaborate and expand the definition of Language by outlining the characteristics conferred to it due to its nature as a biological trait. I propose, firstly, that there is intrinsic variation among Language(s) inherited by individuals in a population; secondly, that Language is susceptible to natural and social selection - and finally, I will conclude by discussing some advantages afforded to Language by being invested in and transmitted through a biological or genetic scaffold. By revisiting and reanalyzing Language/ Universal Grammar from a biological/ genetic lens, I hope to supplement and expand the boundaries of how Language is defined. Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Linguistics Conference at UGA (2016) View this article on Athenaeum Previous Article Table of Contents Next Article
