Chapter 1: The Origins of Language

Question 1

bow-wow theory

Answer 1

early humans tried to imitate sounds and use them as words

(ex: onomatopoeia)

Question 2

pooh-pooh theory

Answer 2

suggests speech came from instinctive sounds people make in emotional circumstances (“ouch!” “ah!”)

however, these sounds are most often made by breath intake, rather than outtake

Question 3

music source theory

Answer 3

humans connected to music/sound (darwin)

Question 4

yo-he-ho theory

Answer 4

language formed from grunts and social interaction (inter-group communication)

Question 5

physical adaptation theory

Answer 5

when humans became bipedal, we gained the ability to separate the rhythm of speaking and walking

teeth (upright, mostly even); lips (intricate, flexibility); tongue (short/thick); lower larynx and longer pharynx

Question 6

genetic source theory

Answer 6

innateness hypothesis: humans are born with a special capacity for language

may be due to a crucial mutation or two, such as ability to digest starch (increased glucose)

Question 6

tool-making theory

Answer 6

evidence of making tools -> evidence of complex brain

hand gestures may have preceded spoken language

Question 7

when did humans start learning spoken languages?

Answer 7

500,000 ~ 100,000 years ago

Question 8

when did humans start learning written language?

Answer 8

5,000 years ago

Question 9

divinely given source

Answer 9

humans are born with the “original language”

repeatedly disproven; no spontaneous language