Theories+of+Language+Origin

__**Theories of Language Origin**__

Livvy Amanda

Don't forget text - here are some links that might be useful: http://ddm.caad.ed.ac.uk/2002-03/pages/courses/newdirections/new_directions3/index.html http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/courses/edpsy313/notes/hh02.htm http://www.geocities.com/xerexes/thesisi.html (talks about the origin of language development, which might be easier) Here's more links: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/langorigins.html http://grazian-archive.com/quantavolution/Language/LanguageOrg.html http://www.primitivism.com/language.htm http://fla.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/17/51/219

There are two types of theories of language : the continuity approach (nature) and the discontinuity (nurture) approach (1). The continuity is considered a form of Darwinism and looks for language in animal communication systems. The discontinuity approach says trhat language does not come from animals but humans. Here are some theories of language that someone else gave different names to.

"1. **The mama theory**. Language began with the easiest syllables attached to the most significant objects. 2. **The ta-ta theory**. Sir Richard Paget, influenced by Darwin, believed that body movement preceded language. Language began as an unconscious vocal imitation of these movements -- like the way a child’s mouth will move when they use scissors, or my tongue sticks out when I try to play the guitar. This evolved into the popular idea that language may have derived from gestures. 3. **The bow-wow theory**. Language began as imitations of natural sounds -- moo, choo-choo, crash, clang, buzz, bang, meow... This is more technically refered to as onomatopoeia or echoism. 4. **The pooh-pooh theory**. Language began with interjections, instinctive emotive cries such as oh! for surprise and ouch! for pain. 5. **The ding-dong theory**. Some people, including the famous linguist Max Muller, have pointed out that there is a rather mysterious correspondence between sounds and meanings. Small, sharp, high things tend to have words with high front vowels in many languages, while big, round, low things tend to have round back vowels! Compare itsy bitsy teeny weeny with moon, for example. This is often referred to as sound symbolism. 6. **The yo-he-ho theory**. Language began as rhythmic chants, perhaps ultimately from the grunts of heavy work (heave-ho!). The linguist A. S. Diamond suggests that these were perhaps calls for assistance or cooperation accompanied by appropriate gestures. This may relate yo-he-ho to the ding-dong theory, as in such words as cut, break, crush, strike... 7. **The sing-song theory**. Danish linguist Jesperson suggested that language comes out of play, laughter, cooing, courtship, emotional mutterings and the like. He even suggests that, contrary to other theories, perhaps some of our first words were actually long and musical, rather than the short grunts many assume we started with. 8. **The hey you! theory**. A linguist by the name of Revesz suggested that we have always needed interpersonal contact, and that language began as sounds to signal both identity (here I am!) and belonging (I’m with you!). We may also cry out in fear, anger, or hurt (help me!). This is more commonly called the contact theory. 9. **The hocus pocus theory**. My own contribution to these is the idea that language may have had some roots in a sort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors' lives. Perhaps we began by calling out to game animals with magical sounds, which became their names. 10. **The eureka! theory**. And finally, perhaps language was consciously invented. Perhaps some ancestor had the idea of assigning arbitrary sounds to mean certain things. Clearly, once the idea was had, it would catch on like wild-fire!" (2).

The theory of language orgins has followed the theory of evolution according to Darwin. The human species and its culture language is asserted to have come about gradually, as the human anatomy and human behaivor has changed (3)."Human beings have long been intrigued by questions about language precedence and the origins of language. Accounts abound, from diverse-cultures, of concerted efforts to answer these questions. In the Greek historian Herodotus' account of a language study by King Psammetichus of Ancient Egypt. the first word spoken by children reared without speech input was 'bekos', the Phrygian word for bread. This utterance established, for many Egyptians, that Phrygian was the world's oldest language. In various other historical accounts of children reared without exposure to speech, the children also reportedly learned a spoken language. The languages that the children purportedly acquired, however, differed between accounts. This failure to replicate results calls into question the claims made about the particular languages acquired and may raise doubts as to whether the studies were actually conducted. There is, however, compelling evidence that at least one study of children reared without exposure to spoken language definitely took place. This study was conducted about 400 years ago under the direction of Akbar, the emperor of Hindustan. The outcome was quite different from that of the other studies. The young children, who were reared by mute nurses, failed to acquire //any// spoken language. Instead, according to several accounts, these children communicated through gestures. This finding is consistent with the view that the roots of language are in gesture" (4.)



1. http://www.geocities.com/xerexes/thesisi.html 2. http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/langorigins.html 3. http://grazian-archive.com/quantavolution/Language/LanguageOrg.html 4.http://fla.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/17/51/219