Origins of Language PDF

# The Origins of Language ## The First Language - The first person to set foot on the continent of Australia was a woman named *Warramurrungunji*. - She emerged from the sea and headed inland, creating children and placing them in specific locations along the way. - As she moved, she told each chi...

# The Origins of Language ## The First Language - The first person to set foot on the continent of Australia was a woman named *Warramurrungunji*. - She emerged from the sea and headed inland, creating children and placing them in specific locations along the way. - As she moved, she told each child "This is the language you should talk! This is your language!" ## The Iwaidja Story - The Iwaidja people of Australia tell a story explaining the origins of languages. - Their story illustrates the belief that languages originated from a mythical earth mother. - This story explains why there are so many different languages. ## The Divine Source - The biblical tradition states that God created Adam and "whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.” - According to Hinduism, the goddess *Sarasvati* is believed to have brought language to humanity. - Many religions suggest a divine source who provides humans with language. ## Experiments - Several experiments have been conducted to try and understand the origins of language. - The basic hypothesis was that if infants were allowed to grow up without hearing any language they would spontaneously begin using the original language. ### The Experiment of Psammetichus - The Greek writer Herodotus wrote about an experiment by the Egyptian pharaoh *Psammetichus* over 2,500 years ago. - Two newborn babies were isolated with only goats and a mute shepherd for company. - After two years, the children were reported to have spontaneously uttered the Phrygian word *bekos*, meaning "bread". - This experiment seemed to suggest that Phrygian was the original language. ### King James the Fourth's Experiment - King James IV of Scotland conducted a similar experiment around the year 1500. - The children in this experiment were said to have spontaneously started speaking Hebrew. - The experiment was intended to confirm the king's belief that Hebrew was the language of the Garden of Eden. ### Akbar the Great's Experiment - The Mogul emperor Akbar the Great also had newborn babies raised in silence. - Akbar found that children who had not been exposed to human language did not develop speech. - It was concluded that humans require access to language for speech development. ## The Natural Sound Source - The *bow-wow* theory states that language originated from imitations of the natural sounds heard by early humans. - Examples of onomatopoeia, words that sound like the sounds they describe, are often cited as evidence for this theory. - Some scholars argue that it is unlikely that language developed solely from imitating natural sounds. ## The *Pooh-Pooh* Theory - The *pooh-pooh* theory states that language originated from natural cries of emotion. - Examples of interjections like *Ouch*, *Ah*, and *Phew* are used to support this theory. - Despite the fact that these interjections are often used in emotional situations, they are unlikely to have been the source of language. ## The Musical Source - Charles Darwin proposed in 1871 the idea that early humans used music to charm each other, before developing language. - Intonation and melody are thought to develop in humans before other language skills. - The ability to control the vocal folds, producing sound, might be considered the first musical instrument. - It is argued that early humans could have used melody to communicate before developing language. ## The Social Interaction Source - The *yo-he-ho* theory states that language originated from sounds used in physical activity, such as lifting and carrying heavy objects. - The idea behind this theory is that early humans needed to communicate within groups to coordinate tasks. - The theory acknowledges that grunts and curses are a form of communication but does not explain the origins of those sounds. ## The Physical Adaptation Source - The physical features that humans possess are thought to have contributed to speech development. - The shift to bipedal locomotion changed the rhythm of breathing, creating the space for longer exhalations, which are essential for speech. - The structure of the human larynx is also considered a significant factor in speech production. ## The Tool-Making Source - The idea that tool-making was a catalyst for language development is based on the physical similarities between the brain regions responsible for speech and those responsible for tool use. - The development of complex tool-making, using both hands, suggests a high level of cognitive function. - The complex process of tool-making may have given rise to the development of language. ## The Genetic Source - The development of language in infants is described as almost automatic, suggesting a genetic basis for this ability. - The fact that deaf children can learn sign language easily is also interpreted as evidence for the existence of a genetic predisposition for language. - The *innateness hypothesis* suggests that a crucial mutation or set of mutations led to the development of the human language capacity. ## The Innateness Hypothesis - The *innateness hypothesis* suggests that language is an innate capacity in humans. - This suggests that changes in human genetics, likely resulting in adaptations to a new diet, contributed to the development of the brain and the capacity for language. - The hypothesis posits a specific "language gene", which could have been a key factor in the evolution of human language.