medium · LSAT Logical Reasoning
A linguist asserts that no human language has more than five distinct vowel sounds unless it also possesses a complex tonal system. The linguist cites several Indo-European languages as evidence.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the linguist's assertion?
- The complexity of a language's phonetic system does not necessarily reflect the cognitive sophistication of its speakers.
- A recently documented Amazonian language has twelve distinct vowel sounds yet no tonal distinctions whatsoever.
- Many languages with fewer than five vowels are spoken by isolated communities that have little contact with other linguistic groups.
- Standard Mandarin Chinese has a highly complex tonal system together with exactly five distinct vowel sounds.
- Every single language ever spoken by humans has possessed an elaborate tonal system without exception.
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