| LANGUAGES LEARNING i t EDSYNTTG
PETRA cma Rosca
Just as physicists ponder the origins of the
universe, so linguists efiet on the origins of
language. Here are some popular nincteenth-
‘which were later given de
sive names to suggest their essence as well as
the attitudes of their critics,
1. The Bow-Wow Theory
Language grew out of man’s attempts to
imitate natural sounds. This can be compared
with observations of infant behaviour. The
infant calls a cow ‘moo’, copying its sound.
‘The logical development of this theory is that
man's first words would have been
‘onomatopoeie or echo words, for example,
sneeze, bump, grumble.
2. The Pooh-Pooh Theary
Language originated from the spontaneous
hhuman cries: of recognition (‘ah’), surprise
Cwow'), joy Cooh’ or ‘mm’) and disgust
Cush’
3. The Goo-Goo Theory
This theory drew on the others and held that
any sonnd consistently witered. with purpose
and meaning will. with The passage of time,
_come to be consistently understood as having.
that meaning.
4. The Ding-Dong Theory
Originally proposed by Greek philosophers,
this theory suggested that language emerged
nmystically. As each emity appeared on the
face of the earth, it got its own unique name.
So, when man frst encountered dog, he said
‘Dog" and that's how it got its name.
Read through the feature article above and answer the questions
which follow:
5. The Ta-Ta Theory
People’s earliest communication was by
gesture, Ata later developmental stage these
gestures were regubarly accompanied by
‘movements of the mouth. At the final stage,
when it was no longer practical to use the
hands for gesture because they were occupied
‘with some other activity, humans eared 6
modify the air blowa through the mouth and
nose to make understandable sounds.
6. The Sing-Song Theory
Human speech emerged from the musical
expression of emotions. So, the melodious
chants used in primitive courtship rivuals
between men and women were later extended
to display other emotions. And from these
sprew the richness of human specch,
1. Which theories relate the origins of human language to animal
sounds?
2. Which theories relate these origins to vocal human behaviour?
3. Which theories relate these origins to non-vocal human
behaviour?
4. Which theories claim human language emerged spontaneously?