James IV and Inchkeith
‘James IV, 1473 - 1513. Reigned 1488 - 1513′ by Unknown, after 1578 - Oil on panel.
Throughout history there have been a number of language deprivation experiments recorded, wherein which children are isolated from society and language in order for the conductor of the experiment to ascertain the origin of language itself. What language or method of communication might someone grow up to voice if they grew up completely detached from the world?
The story that fascinates me the most is that of James IV of Scotland, who allegedly performed such an experiment on the island of Inchkeith. The rumours speak of James IV casting out a mute woman and two children to grow up segregated from mankind to discover what language they might grow up to speak. He believed that this speech would be the purest form of communication and would be the intrinsic ‘language of God’.
Unfortunately there are no sources that can verify this story, many modern historians claiming it implausible. However, there are also no sources to say that it could not have happened. It has been reported that among the King’s intellectual interests, his love of language and communication was the most significant; he himself was fluent in Scots Gaelic, English, Latin, French, German, Italian Flemish and Spanish. I believe it not in the realms of impossibility that someone with such an interest in language and with that much influence could not have put this inquisitiveness into action and perform such an inquiry.
I have enjoyed reading stories about language deprivation, though it seems cruel to intentionally deny someone the option to communicate in the way we have been privileged to. The fundamentals of communication have progressed considerably since the dawn of man and to strip someone of that is unfair. The notion of a pure verbal articulation is interesting though, the idea that not having any persuasion or corruption from the outside world might culminate in a refined language. I wonder how that might translate in written form.
In all honesty, I don’t think these peculiar experiments would amount to much in terms of a divine language being discovered. I expect that the reality of it might be reminiscent of the forms of communication by the populaces of the Palaeolithic era; evocative cave paintings and limited verbal expression. That being said it makes for an interesting read, and also encourages us to appreciate the advancement of communication, both verbal and written. The very fact that written communication and the printed mark exist allows the ability to communicate not only with each other in the present but to record information for future generations; communicative time travel.
