General linguistics

General linguistics The origins of language? What is languageDefinitions of language-Language is the human ability to acquire and use complex system of communication.

-Language is a system that enables humans to exchange verbal or symbolic utterances. -Asystemofcommunicationconsisting ofsounds, words, and grammar, or thesystemofcommunicationused bypeoplein particularcountry ortype ofwork.The origin of language The divine source . The natural sound source. The oral-gesture source. The physical adaptation source. The genetic source. 1. The divine source The basic idea of this theory is that : a divine source gives language to the humans. If human infants grow up in isolation, they will naturally begin to use the original God-given language. Over centuries, people carried out many experiments to discover the original God-given language. - Pasmmeticus (Egyptian pharaoh) let two newborn infants grow up in the company of goats and a mute shepherd, after two years the children were reported to have started saying the Phrygian word bekos (bread) - The pharaoh concluded that Phrygian must be the original language.However, children discovered living in isolation do not confirm these findings but grow up with no language.2. The natural sound source The language comes from the imitation of sounds made by the nature.(bow-wow theory) the imitation of sounds were used to refer to the things associated with the relevant sound.(onomatopoeic) (yo-he-yo theory) the language developed on the basis of human cooperation. It has also been suggested that the original sounds of language come from natural cries of emotion. e.g. Pain, anger and joy. 3. The oral-gesture source The gestural theory states that human language developed from gestures that were used for simple communication. This theory links between physical gesture and orally produced sounds. Oral gestures were developed via too-making, as early humans hands became occupied with tool use, they were less able to use hand gestures, so speech became a necessity. The function for object manipulation and for speaking are very close to each other in the left hemisphere of the brain. 4- The physical adaptation source Physical features that distinguish humans from other creatures may have supported speech production.Parts of human body work differently.*upright teeth (fricative sounds)*more flexible lips*Smaller, thicker more muscular tongue *The human larynx, or voice box, which contains the vocal cords, is in lower position in humans than in primates,

*Longer pharynx (cavity above the vocal fold)5- the genetic source- Crucial mutation in human genetics, language gene- This would mean that language did not result from gradual change but happened rather quickly unlike physical adaptation.Linguistic functions:1- Interactional function2- Transactional functionThank you