Origin of Language Flashcards
Problem of Language
Origin of human language (When)
Start of ancestors’ speaking (How & Why)
Western Philosophical VIews
PSW
Plato
Socrates
Wilhelm Wundt
Plato’s View
- Names of all things, as given by an original “name giver” ( a god or ancient culture hero) reflect their inherent nature.
- Knowledge of the correct-and, presumably, unchanging-should be an important part of education.
Socrates’ View
Counters by…
- inquired how the mysterious name giver could have acquired the knowledge of things on which to base the names if there were no existing names (no words, and thus, no language) to provide him with that knowledge.
- Relativistic View (word coinage for human use; language as arbitrary and conventional)
- language can change to meet human needs.
Relativistic View of Socrates
words are coined for human use; language is essentially arbitrary or conventional.
Wilhelm Wundt’s View
- Focused on Language’s MOTIVATION for usage (cause/product of human intelligence?)
- Prominent Philosophies of Language
Prominent Language Philosophies
Invention Theory
Bow Wow Theory/Imitation
Natural Sound/”Ouch!” Theory
Miracle Theory
Wilhelm Wundt’s proposed theory that implies “Language as a human artifact created in response to the needs of society.
Invention Theory
How can words be coined, agreement reached on their meanings, and a grammar constructed without the use of an already existing language?
Invention Theory Criticism
Wilhelm Wundt’s proposed theory w/c proposes that language begin with mimicry, using the vocal imitation of natural sounds; that languages do contain some vocabulary that appears to reflect the workings of sound imitation — onomatopoeia;
Imitation or “Bow Wow” Theory
Languages differ in their propensity for onomatopoeia, but none relies on it extensively as a major source of vocabulary;
Various processes of change would eventually have obscured the original connections between form and meaning.
Imitation or “Bow Wow” Theory Criticism
Wilhelm Wundt’s proposed theory saying that language is derived from instinctive emotional cries or exclamations, also demands an evolutionary scenario;
presence of evolutionary continuity between the vocalizations of monkeys, apes and human language (CD).
Natural Sound/“Ouch!” Theory
How the transition from instinctive cries to language may have taken place?
Natural Sound/“Ouch!” Theory Criticism
Suggested that there was an evolutionary continuity between the vocalizations of monkeys, apes, and human language (Natural Sound/Ouch! Theory)
Charles Darwin
Wilhelm Wundt’s proposed theory saying that: Language is a divine gift bestowed on humankind as the consequence of an original act of creation;
Sacred stories of certain cultures tell of (1) a special creation of language, while in other it appears as (2) part of humankind’s endowment
Miracle Theory
