Poking, Cherrie Pearl A.

BSEd2
SED LING 1
Chapter 1; Assignment 1.1
Page 1 of 2
Chapter 1: Language and Linguistics; Lesson 3: The Origin of Language
Assignment 1.1: Construct a reflection essay using the following guide questions. 1. Why is a theory important
in understanding a certain concept? 2. What theory do you think is realistic? Why? 3. Do you agree that all the
theories can somehow be interrelated? Why?

Theories on The Origin of Language

Language is the primary means used by human beings to communicate or interact with one another but
there are still questions and arguments when it comes to its origin. The origin of language is said to have
relationship with human evolution, and its consequences have been a hot subject of study for a long time. Many
argue that the origins of language probably relate closely to the origins of modern human behavior, but there is
little agreement about the facts and implications of this connection. Linguists or other researchers who wish to
study the origins of language has a lot to consider including inferences from evidence such as archaeological
evidence, contemporary language diversity, studies of language acquisition and comparisons between human
language and systems of communication that exist among animals. Thus, some of the theories about the language
origin are The Devine Source, The Natural Sound Source, The Social Interaction Source, The Physical Adaptation
Source and The Genetic Source.

Theory plays a crucial part in different fields as it provides concepts to name what is observed, to explain
relationships between the concepts and allows us to figure out how to bring about change. It is a tool that enables
us to identify a problem and to plan a means for altering the situation. Theory is important in understanding a
concept because it fills the gap between the missing idea and the knowledge that we already know. For example,
if I am curious about how we acquire language then I can look for theories that may support my own idea and can
answer my curiosity. It guides us to further comprehend a situation or topic by giving us point of view, opinions
and speculation. Moreover, theory guides research, and therefore theories help us to advance further studies that
may lead us to answer or understand a certain concept or question. We cannot deny the fact that the existence of
theory is significant in different fields. On the other hand, on the given theories above I believe that The Social
Interaction Source or Yo-he-ho Theory is more realistic because it is the only theory that I observed or experience
on my own. Social interactionist theory is an explanation of language development emphasizing the role of social
interaction between the developing child and linguistically knowledgeable adults. I noticed this pandemic that a
child can acquire a language with the help of the environment and the people around him/her. My nephew for
example learned how to talk by the help of her parents, my cousins and other people around him. We start teaching
him small sounds until he tries to copy us and then eventually learns how to pronounce long words like “tita”,
“mama” and others. In overall view, I agree that all of these theories are somehow interrelated because they tried
to improve the theory of others by presenting more evidences. The Devine Source which is over century lacks
supporting evidence except from the written proofs and was further explained by the Nature Sound Source then
again by the Social Interaction and others. They provide ideas on how sounds are produced in physical structures
of a human, the relationship of social context and that a human has a language gene. They are linked with each
other because they tried to improve, clarify and connect the ideas of one theory to another.

In this sense, I therefore conclude that theories helps us to trace the origin of language and theories may
continue to be created and advance in the future. No matter how important theories are, I hope that this shouldn’t
become a root of misunderstanding and arguments that may create a gap between us. Language plays a very
Poking, Cherrie Pearl A.
BSEd2
SED LING 1
Chapter 1; Assignment 1.1
Page 2 of 2
important role in human lives. It matters a great deal as this is what helps to distinguish the sayings of one
individual from the other. Without language I can’t imagine what world are we living, a boring and uncreative
world maybe. God is truly great because he gave us the Language as a tool for us humans to understand each
other.