ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at various theories of genesis that have been proposed over the years. It discusses J. Arends et al. in dividing theories of genesis into three groups. The first consists of theories that take the superstratal language as their starting point; the second includes a hypothesis which emphasizes the importance of substratal languages; and the third, one that is based on universals of language acquisition. Nautical jargon theory, for example, is based purely on elements that have been derived from different superstratal languages. The students are taught official Nicaraguan Sign Language in mixed-age groups and, perhaps as a consequence of this, no new language has been created. The ability of the Nicaraguan signers to make up, partially or wholly, for the lack of normal language transmission does tantalizingly point in the direction of the bioprogram.
