The Origins

of Language
Safaa Zouhair
Fatima Zahra Rahmoun
Ayman Omari
Rania Medkouri
Table of content
01 02 03
The Natural
Introduction The Divine Source
Sound Source

04 05 06
The Social The Physical
The Tool-Making
Interaction Adaptation
Source
Source Source
Table of content
07
The Genetic
Source
08
Conclusion

09
Workshop
 01
Introducti
on
 “A language is not just words. It’s a
culture, a tradition, a unification of
community, a whole history that creates
what a community is. It’s all embodied in
a language.”

—Noam Chomsky
• In Charles Darwin's vision of the origins of
language, early humans had already developed
musical ability prior to language and were
using it "to charm each other".

• We simply do not know how language

originated.

• We suspect that some type of spoken language

must have developed between 100,000 and
50,000 years ago, well before written
language (about 5,000 years ago).
 02
The Divine
Source
The Divine Source
• The Divine Source is also called “Monogenetice
Theory of Origin of Language”.

• Biblical trition says that God created Adam and

able him to call everything with their name.

• Sarasvati (Wife of Brahma) is credited with

language to humanity.
The Divine Source

• Babylonians think that God Nabu is creator of

language.

• Plato though that a "Legislator" gave correct

natural name to everything.
The Divine Source

• The Greek writer Herodotus

reported that an Egyptian
Pharaoh named Psammetichus
after conducting an experiment
of putting the child in isolation
was sure that divine
(parent/original)
language was Phrygian.
 The Divine Source

• The newborn who was in

total isolation was
spontaneously uttering the
word “bekos” which was the
word from Phrygian
language meaning “bread”.
The Divine Source

• King James conducting the same experiment

concluded that the origin language is “Hebrew”.

• While Mogul King Akbar the Great after arranging

the same experiment concluded that there is no
parent language of man. His result is near to the
real-world outcome.
The Divine Source

• Victor and Genie, the two children who

passed through these experiences
naturally, confirm us that there is no
spontaneous language.
 03
The Natural
Sound
Source
The Natural Sound Source

The origins of language are attributed to the human

auditory system, which begins functioning before
birth at around seven months. This early processing
capacity enables humans to identify and connect
sounds with their environment.
Theories
—The Bow-Wow theory: When an — However, this theory is only
object flew by, making a caw-caw acceptable regarding
sound, the early humans tried to onomatopoeic words. This theory
imitate the sound and used it to does not explain the origin of
refer to the thing associated with abstract word in language. The
the sound. This process called function of language is not just to
onomatopoeia. All modern name the words. A dog's bark is
languages have some words with heard as “au” in Brazil, “ham
pronunciations that seem to echo ham” in Albania, and
naturally occuring sounds. “wang wang” in China.
Theories
—The ding-dong theory is —Critics argue that the theory
generally attributed to early oversimplifies the complexities of
linguistic thinkers, particularly language development. Language is
German philologist Max Müller. more than just sounds responding to
According to him, language is a the environment—it involves syntax,
chard-response mechanism where grammar, and abstract concepts,
the origin of language is none of which are explained by the
connected to rhythm. Ding-Dong theory.
Theories
—The Pooh-Pooh Theory proposes —However, emotions are just one part
that early humans developed language of language. We use language to talk
as an emotional, spontaneous response about everything—things, actions, ideas
to their surroundings. According to this —not just to express how we feel.
hypothesis, the earliest words were There’s no solid evidence showing that
spontaneous exclamations (such as emotional cries slowly developed into
"Ouch!" or "Wow!") that signified pain, full languages. We need more than just
surprise, or joy. emotional sounds to have a proper
language.
Theories
—The Yo-He-Ho theory emphasizes —Although this idea ties the beginnings
that language likely developed in social of language to social interaction, it
settings, where coordination and doesn’t fully explain the specific origins
cooperation were necessary for survival. of speech, since other social animals
produce sounds but don’t develop
complex languages like humans
Theories
—Musical Origins Theory (Darwin): —It remains purely speculative. There is
Early humans might have used musical no concrete evidence to support this
notes and rhythm to communicate idea. Additionally, it contrasts the idea
before developing language. It’s of early humans "charming" each other
speculative but suggests that music with music with the common image of
predates language. them being rough and primitive.
Ultimately, it remains an interesting but
unproven theory about how language
might have originated​
 04
The Social
Interaction
Source
The Social Interaction Source
The sounds humans made during physical activities, especially when working
together, might have contributed to the development of language.
Early humans might have used simple vocalizations, like grunts or
groans, to coordinate their efforts while doing tasks such as lifting heavy
objects. This idea is appealing because it links language development to
social interaction, suggesting that humans needed some form of
communication to function in groups. While it’s clear that these sounds
played a role in group dynamics, it doesn’t fully explain how complex speech
originated, since other animals also make social sounds but
don't develop speech.
 05
The Physical
Adaptation Source
The Physical Adaptation Source
It looks at the unique physical features of humans, especially those that
differentiate us from other animals, which could have contributed to the
development of speech. These features are related to the anatomical and
evolutionary changes in early humans.

One key observation in this explanation is the transition to an

upright posture (bi-pedalism), where humans started walking on
two feet to use the arms for other tasks, like tool-making or gestures,
rather than locomotion. This played a major role in enabling humans to
produce speech.
 The Physical Adaptation Source
 1. Teeth and lips: They are useful in producing sounds like f or v. Human
lips have significantly more complicated muscular interlacing than other
primate species, and the resulting flexibility helps produce sounds such as
p, b, and m.

 2. Mouth and tongue: The human mouth is relatively small compared to

other primates and can be opened and closed rapidly. In contrast to the
fairly thin flat tongue of other large primates, humans have a shorter,
thicker, and more muscular tongue that can be used to shape a wide
variety of sounds inside the oral cavity.
 The Physical Adaptation Source

 3. Larynx and pharynx: During human physical

growth, the upright posture elevated the head
over the spinal column and lowered the larynx.
The pharynx, located above the vocal folds, works as
a resonator, increasing the range and quality of
sounds generated by the larynx and vocal tract.
Other primates have almost no pharynx,
allowing humans to choke on food. Monkeys, on
the other hand, have a larger range of sounds due to
their larynx, outweighing the potential disadvantage
of increased choking risk.
 06
The Tool-
Making
Source
 The Tool-Making Source
Some believe that manual gestures may have been a precursor of
language.

The tool-making source: as early humans' hands became

occupied with tool use, they were less able to use hand
gestures, so speech became a necessity.

Lateralized brain: each hemisphere of brain has its own

functions alternatively.

Speech and tool-making abilities are very close to one

another in the left hemisphere.
07
The Genetic
Source
 The Genetic Source
 Language is an important part of human life; even
individuals who do not develop speech can become skilled
sign language users early on. This shows that human
babies are born with a distinct, intrinsic ability for
language that is unrelated to any particular language
variation. Is it possible that this linguistic ability is
genetically ingrained in newborn humans?
 The Genetic Source
 One of the important pieces of
evidence supporting this theory
comes from the FOXP2 gene,
sometimes known as the "language
gene". Mutations in FOXP2 have been
associated with speech and language
disorders. Therefore, FOXP2 is
required for the proper development
of speech and language in humans.
 The Genetic Source

 Noam Chomsky, proposes that humans are born with a

biological tendency to acquire language. It suggests that
a genetic mutation—rather than gradual evolutionary
processes—played a key role in allowing humans to
develop complex language.
08
Conclusion
Conclusion
Many religious traditions, including the
Divine Source Bible and Hinduism, propose that
language was a divine gift.
The idea that early humans imitated
Natural sound source natural sounds (e.g., animals,
environmental noises) to form words
The "yo-he-ho" theory suggests
Social interaction language evolved from sounds made
source during coordinated physical efforts in
groups,
Human physiological traits evolved to
Physical adaptation enable speech, making it distinct from
other animals
Language is likely hardwired in human
Genetic source genetics, as even deaf children naturally
develop sign language, showing an innate
capacity for communication.
In conclusion

These theories explore how

language might have emerged
through a mix of biological, social,
and environmental factors, though
there is no definitive answer.
 09
Workshop
Workshop
Why are exclamations such as Ooh! Or Yuck! Considered
to be unlikely sources of human speech sounds?
● Because language is not only about our reactions to
emotions and feelings.

What is the basic idea behind the “bow-wow” theory

of language origin?
● Primitive words derive from imitations of the natural sounds that
early men and women heard around them.
Workshop
Why do you believe young deaf children who grow skilled in
SL would be used to support the genetic source theory?
● Because it proves that language ability is ingrained
genetically in humans.
Based on your understanding of the “music- is-the–
origin-of language-theory”, how does music predate
language?
● Early humans may have used musical sounds, like rhythms and melodies,
to express emotions and communicate before developing structured
speech.
Workshop
What was the experiment that was done to show the
resonation between the language and divine origin?
● It's about Pharoah isolating two toddlers from the
outside interaction.
Thanks
!