There are vast differences between cultural and biological evolution, but also a number of similarities. The evolution of languages is a subject where similarities may help to understand biological evolution. Major changes in language take place in partial or complete isolation. Small changes build up between isolated groups until the once common language has differentiated into separate tongues, similar to isolated populations of organisms becoming separate entities in the process.
When two language groups make contact once again, they usually exchange
some words and pronunciations. English is a good example, where contact has resulted in
incorporation of words from multitudes of other languages. This is similar to the
results of biological hybridization, where two groups are still able to breed when they
come into contact and thus exchange genetic material. For the most part, however, the
analogy breaks down at this point. While the French may attempt, unsuccessfully, to
protect what they consider the purity of their language, Nature often succeeds in
erecting genetic barriers preventing contamination, resulting in those protected
entities that we call species.
Contributor: Arthur H. Harris, Laboratory for Environmental Biology, Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso.
Desert Diary is a joint production of the Centennial Museum and KTEP National Public Radio at the University of Texas at El Paso.