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Presentation

1. Introduction to Linguistics Good Morning class… Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into visible. –Tony Robbins Learning Package 3 by: Karen N. Gaspar – College Teacher

2. Overview Wishing you had comprehended our previous topic. In this lesson we will study about the topic: Origin of Language and Different Views About Language

3. Origin of Language Here is a question for the ages: When did language begin? For that matter, where did it begin, and more importantly, how? Many linguists take say that they do not know. Language was way ahead of writing , and so there are no documents detailing the history of language for scholars to study. This does not stop the learned from trying to figure out the origins of languages nonetheless.

4. Origin of Language There are few interesting theories on the origins of language based largely on speculation. The learned have decided to scoff (even ban) the discussion of these origins. Let’s take a take a brief look at some of these theories that have been given equally interesting nicknames that they are now known for. The learned have dismissed these theories as seriously flawed, but they still provide interesting insights on a question that we still do not have a conclusive answer to.

5. Origin of Language : Main Hypothesis Divine Source Genesis 11: 1-9 or The Tower of Babel Read the verse from your Christian bible. The book that you haven’t open for a while. Hahaha JK. For those who are not Christians you can search on the internet and read it. Natural Evolution Hypothesis Invention / Imitation Hypothesis The Bow wow Theory The Pooh-Pooh Theory The Ding-Dong Theory The Yo -He-Ho Theory The La-La Theory

6. Natural Evolution Hypothesis This hypothesis states that humans evolved a Language Acquisition Device . The simple vocalizations and gestures inherited from our primitive ancestors quickly gave way to a creative system of language – perhaps in a single generation or two due to a genetic mutation that produced advantageous results. A Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is a hypothetical tool in the human brain that lets children learn and understand language quickly. A theory developed by  Noam Chomsky  who believed that every child has a Language Acquisition Device . You will surely know more about him on your second year.

7. Natural Evolution Hypothesis The LAD is a structure in the brain that infants are born with, allowing them to quickly learn and understand language as they mature. This theory asserts that humans are born with the instinct or "innate facility" for acquiring language.  One theory suggests this perhaps gave Homo sapiens an advantage over Homo neatherthal is, whose vocalizations were limited by a less developed vocal tract. Studies of Neanderthal skulls indicate that they were only able to produce fricative sounds, like /f/ and /v/. “Homo loquens ” – the speaking human! Homo loquens the Homo Sapiens

8. Invention/Imitation Hypothesis The Bow wow Theory According to this theory, language began when our ancestors started imitating the natural sounds around them. The first speech was onomatopoeic —marked by echoic words such as  moo, meow, splash, cuckoo,  and  bang . The Ding-Dong Theory This theory, favored by Plato and Pythagoras, maintains that speech arose in response to the essential qualities of objects in the environment. The original sounds people made were supposedly in harmony with the world around them.  

9. Invention/Imitation Hypothesis The Ding-Dong Theory humans named objects, actions and phenomena after a recognizable sound associated with it. The first human words were a type of ICON, a sign whose form is an exact image of its meaning: Boom = explosion (English) Tun-tun = heart (Chinook Indian) Ai- ai = knife (Basque, literally “ouch-ouch”)  

10. Invention/Imitation Hypothesis The La-La Theory ( also called the sing-song theory ) is the name of one of the speculative theories about the origins of language. This theory claims that speech originated in song, play, laughter, and other aspects of romantic side of life. It also argues some of our first words were long and musical rather than short grunts some theories suppose we started with. The Danish linguist Otto Jespersen suggested that language may have developed from sounds associated with love, play, and (especially) song.

11. Invention/Imitation Hypothesis The Pooh Pooh Theory This theory believes that humans’ first words were derived from spontaneous expressions of dislike, hunger, pain, or pleasure. Like Ha-ha-ha, wah-wah  . This theory holds that speech began with interjections—spontaneous cries of pain ("Ouch!"), surprise ("Oh!"), and other emotions ("Yabba dabba do!").

12. Invention/Imitation Hypothesis The  Yo -He-Ho Theory   proposes that language and speech started with grunts and groans as well as chants, and rhythmic sounds that the earliest peoples use to coordinate their movements as they work together to accomplish a formidable task. In effect, this theory claims that language originated from the cooperative efforts of human beings as exemplified by marching chants and working songs. This theory is quite effective at explaining the rhythmic features of human speech however the origin of words is in no way explained by the theory.

13. Origin of Language Scholars are currently trying to answer the question that we have presented here by conducting research on factors that may have contributed to language development. Some of the factors identified are cognitive, physical, and social factors. The available evidence regarding the origins of language is quite inconclusive despite the fact that language is perhaps one of the most important cultural phenomena the world has ever seen. Those were the know theories of the origin of language class now let’s know about the different views of language

14. Views About Language We have here four views of language class: Structuralists Transformationalist/Cognitivists Functionalists Interactionists And we are going to study one by one on how they view language class. Now let’s have first the Structuralists .

15. Structuralists Believe that language can be described in terms observable and verifiable data as it is being used. Language is a system of speech sounds used for human communication. Language is a means of communication. Language is primarily VOCAL. Language is system of systems Language is Arbitrary Ferdinand De Saussure – proponent of this theory.

16. Structuralists Language is primarily VOCAL. Language is primarily vocal because sound or speech is the primary medium for all human languages developed or "new". Writing systems came much later than the spoken forms. The fact that small children learn and can only learn to speak (and listen) before they write (and read) also indicates that language is primarily vocal rather than written.

17. Structuralists Language is system of systems. Sounds are arranged in certain fixed order to form meaningful words. ▧Ex: no words starts in bz - lr or zl but, there are spr - and str - Words are arranged to form meaningful sentences. ▧Ex: subject – verb- object Language is a system of structurally related elements: ▧Phonemes – sounds ▧Morphemes –words ▧ Tagmemes – phrases & sentences/clauses

18. Structuralists Language is Arbitrary First let us know what is meant by  arbitrary ? Some dictionary definitions of  arbitrary  includes (1) based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system, (2) existing or coming about seemingly at random or by chance or as a capricious and unreasonable act of will, (3) based on chance rather than being planned or based on reason, (4) something that is determined by judgment or whim and not for any specific reason or rule, and (5) based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.

19. Structuralists Language is Arbitrary Why is language arbitrary? Arbitrariness refers to the quality of “being determined by randomness and not for a specific reason.” Language consists of signifiers that represent the signified. But the signifier is not the signified. A signifier is a form such as a sound, morpheme, word, phrase, clause, or sign. The signified is that to which a signifier refers such as an object, action, quality, or quantity. For example, the English word  book (signifier)  refers to the object (signified), rat (signifier) to animal (signified).

20. Structuralists : Language is Arbitrary Language is arbitrary because a language form does not have an innate or natural relationship with its meaning. Language is arbitrary because of the lack of a natural relationship between the signifier (language form) and the signified (referent).  Languages are arbitrary because they have nothing intrinsically common to the information that they code. Take the word “rat”, for example. Why is it called so? Maybe the shape of rat’s head is similar to “R” letter, and its legs look like “T” letters? Nope. Maybe when they run, their nails click and produce a perfect “rat-rat-rat” sound? Nope again. Maybe if one dissected a rat, they’ll find the word “rat” written on its intestine? Nope, they won’t!

21. Structuralists Language is Arbitrary There’s no reason to link the word “rat” to the actual animal other than “people just got used to it”. “Rat” referring to the actual rodent is an arbitrary rather than natural connection; and languages being arbitrary systems allows for their diversity and makes them as expressive and flexible as they are. So it is then Arbitrary. Gets na class? That is why the structuralist believes that language is Arbitrary class. Read it twice so you would understand it more.

22. Transformationalist/ Cognitivist Believe that language is a system of knowledge made manifest in linguistic forms but innate and universal. Language is a mental phenomenon. Language is INNATE. ▧LAD(Language Acquisition Device) Language is UNIVERSAL. Language is CREATIVE. Noam Chomsky – proponent of this theory.

23. Transformationalist/ Cognitivist Language is a mental phenomenon . ▧ It is not mechanical and not observable. Language is CREATIVE. Native speakers produce and understand sentences they have not heard before. Language is creative because out of 26 letters one can make a very big amount of words. Out of those words one can make a big amount of sentences. One can write anything with these words. Any emotion, any feelings, any new idea etc. So the language is creative.

24. Transformationalist/ Cognitivist Language is Innate The presence of language acquisition device in the human brain predisposes all normal children to acquire their first language in or around five years of age. Language is Universal Language is definitely universal because that is how humans communicate. You can go deep in the jungle and find humans who have not been exposed to modern society and they have language that they use to communicate with each other. It is an inherent human trait. The human animal is adapted to utilize language to express itself, therefore, there is a universality.

25. Functionalist Believe that language is a dynamic system through which members of a community exchange information. This view of language emphasizes the meaning and functions rather than the grammatical characteristics of language rather than structure and grammar. So what’s the Function of Language? Function of Language according to Functionalists Expressing emotions Persuade people Asking and giving information Making people do things for others

26. Interactionist Believe that language is a vehicle for establishing interpersonal relations and for performing social transactions between individuals. Language is a tool for creating and maintaining social interactions through CONVERSATIONS. According to this theory, children learn language out of a desire to communicate with the world around them. Language emerges from, and is dependent upon, social interaction.  The Interactionist approach claims that if our language ability develops out of a desire to communicate, then language is dependent upon whom we want to communicate with.

27. Interactionist This means the environment you grow up in will heavily affect how well and how quickly you learn to talk. For example, infants being raised by only their mother are more likely to learn the word “mama”, and less likely to develop “dada”. Among the first words we learn are ways to demand attention or food. If you’ve ever tried to learn a new language, you may recognize this theory’s influence. Language classes often teach commonly used vocabulary and phrases first, and then focus on building conversations rather than simple rote memorization. Even when we expand our vocabularies in our native language, we remember the words we use the most.

28. Thank you and God speed class… Next package we will study: The Scope of Linguistics If you have any questions just feel free to ask me. You can ask me through email ( [email protected] ), through messenger (Karen N . G aspar ) or you could approach me directly at the SMCHLI College faculty office. Not during night time have it on office hours. Let me have my personal life too.  For Educational Purposes Only