The Origins of Language

 THE ORIGINS OF LANGUAGE

I. The Devine Source:

                                                       

 Before science involes in finding the original language, many biblical tradition and religion had pointed out that it Adam who created by God named every objects and creatures he saw. Similarly, in Hindu tradition, wife of Brahma, Sarasvati is say to be the god who brings language to all humanity. Most religions believe that language was giving by devine entities. Therefore, appear conflicted result. Now to find the God-given language, many people had done an experiment where a newborn child got isolated from civilization and they would automatically speaking the language given by God.  

 It was begin with a pharaoh who did te experiment 2,500 years ago with two babies. After two year of isalation with the company of a mute shepherd and a goat, two childs was report to mumbling the word bekos a Phrygian word, meaning "bread" which lead to a conclusion that Phrygian was the first language. But the theory was uncertain as the childs may not heard the word from human, they may heard this sound from a goat which created a sound similar to that Phrygian word.

 Similar experiment also be carried out by King James the Fourth of Scotland around 1,500. As a result, the child was spontaneously started speaking Hebrew confirming th prediction of the king this the language of Garden of Eden. About a century later, the  Mogul emperor Akkar the Great did the experiment but this time the child didn't speak at all this could be because the child awared that they was living in isolation. This could be applied to future case for example, Victor, the wild boy, Genie, an American child whose life in special circumstance. In conclusion, from a the proofs, there is no "spontaneous" language.

II. The Natural Sound Source:

                             

 A different theory about the beginings of language is based on the cncept of natural sound. The human already develop auditory functioning before birth. This function will continue to grow to become an ability to identify sound. It lead to a idea that primitive people mimicked the sound of objects they heard as the references to those objects like a kind of language. Jespersen then called this idea the "bow-wow" theory.

 The "Bow-Wow" theory: 

Imitating sound created by objects to refer to those objects when those objects weren't present. Some modern words also have pronunciation that seem to echo naturally occuring sound for instance, spash, bang, boom, ... These are the examples of onomatopeia, but this theory is still have a limit when it come to describe abstract concepts like truth or freedom, ...

 The "Pooh-Pooh" theory:

Speech is developed from instinctive sounds people make in emotional circumstances. Such as pain, angry, happy or sad, ...But the sudden intake of breath when creating Ah!, Ooh!, Phew! sounds is opposite of how a normal talk is created. This make this theory to be an impotential candidates as source sounds of language.

III. The Social Interaction Source:   

                             

 This theory still involved natural sound was nicknamed the "yo-he-ho". This idea is about sounds people make when they are involved in physical effort. Moreover, when this effort includes several people and need to cooperate. Human might develop a set of hums, grunts, groans and curses when participating in activities that have multiple people. It is important to have some sort of communication when primitive started to live in group as it a way to keep the horde organized.

IV. The Physical Adaptation Source:

                              

 This support that it physical features human possess especially those involve in develop human speech. The theory deduces the ability to stand upright of primitive people, with bi-pedal locomotion have changed how we breathe. Long articulation allow human to exhale for a long duration and inhale in a brief moment which is crucial for creating speech.

 Teeth and Lips:

Human teeth are upright, not leaning forward like apes, they merely even in height and samller. This defference make human teeth suitable for grinding and chewing. Additionally they are very helpful in making sound f and v. Human lips's muscle interlacing is more complex than othet primates resulting in the lips are more flexible in making the sounds like p, b and m with b and m is the most attested in the vocalizations made by human infant regardless the language their parents speak.

 

 Mouth and Tongue:

Human mouth is smaller than other primates and can be opened and closed rapidly. The vocal track is extended in a more L-shape rather than a straight line from back to front like other mammals. Human tongue in contrast with other primates is shorter and thicker that can be used to shape variety of sounds. Moreover, the airway through the nose can be closed to create more pressure in the mouth. All features result in a more rapid and more powerful delivery of sounds produced through these different parts.

 Laryxn and Pharyxn:

Laryxn or "voice box" is different from other primates such as monkey in position. The upright posture made the skull to be located above the spinal column and the laryxn dropped to a lower position. Therefore, the pharyxn was formed which act like a resonator for increase range and clarity of the sound produced through the laryxn.

V. The Tool-Making Source:

                                         

  This theory point out that during the primitive period where people had already known how to craft tools from raw marterials. This proof that the human brain had developed to some point that allow them to analyze surrounding environment. Therefore, it likely that the part of the brain that responsibility for communication at the same time with other zones of the brain.

 The Human Brain:

 This support that the development of the capability of speech of human has a deep connection with the capability of crafting tools. This theory exist because the brain anatomy shows that the zones control motor movements involved in vocalizing and object manipulation are very close to each others. In addition, the blood flow pattern to vocalizing zone is similar to object manipulation zone.

VI. The Genetic Source:

                                               

 As a baby, brain online weight a quarter compare to an adult brain, their laryxn is higher in throat for breath and drink at the same time purpose, but as the time pass, these features start to change as the child gow up. The brain is fully developed, laryxn is moved to lower part of the throat and the child stood on two legs with capable of speaking and walking. Scholar belived that the automatic physical changes of the child are genetics and it still work even on a child who are unable to hear or speak as they can able to understand the words and use them precisely.

 The Innateness Hypothesis:

 This hypothesis state that due to an mutation in human genes which make the body able to digest starch. Absord a large amount of starch result in an abundent amount of glucose are made. As a result, it enhanced the blood  flow to the brain, create a ideal condition for the brain to develop more complex.