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Week 2

The document explores the origins of language, highlighting various theories such as divine, natural sound, and social interaction sources, while noting the lack of physical evidence. It emphasizes the unique properties of human language, including reflexivity, displacement, and productivity, which distinguish it from animal communication. Ultimately, it concludes that language origins are complex and that human language's unique features enable creativity and cultural transmission.

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fahad1193064
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7 views15 pages

Week 2

The document explores the origins of language, highlighting various theories such as divine, natural sound, and social interaction sources, while noting the lack of physical evidence. It emphasizes the unique properties of human language, including reflexivity, displacement, and productivity, which distinguish it from animal communication. Ultimately, it concludes that language origins are complex and that human language's unique features enable creativity and cultural transmission.

Uploaded by

fahad1193064
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

THE ORIGINS OF LANGUAGE & THE

UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF HUMAN


LANGUAGE
GOALS

• Understand major theories about the origins of


language
• Identify what makes human language unique
• Distinguish human language from animal
communication
WHY ARE LANGUAGE ORIGINS
HARD TO EXPLAIN?
• No physical evidence of early spoken language
• Speech developed long before writing
• Most explanations are theories, not proven facts
MAJOR THEORIES OF LANGUAGE
ORIGIN
• Divine Source: language as a gift from God
• Natural Sound Source: imitation of sounds (e.g.,
buzz, bang)
• Social Interaction Source: coordination during
group work
BIOLOGICAL AND COGNITIVE
SOURCES
• Physical Adaptation Source: human anatomy
supports speech
• Tool-Making Source: sequencing sounds like
sequencing tools
• Genetic Source: humans are biologically prepared
for language
KEY TAKEAWAY: LANGUAGE
ORIGINS
• No single theory fully explains language origins
• Language likely developed through biology,
cognition, and social interaction
FROM ORIGINS TO UNIQUENESS

• All creatures communicate


• Only humans use complex language
• What exactly makes human language special?
UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF HUMAN
LANGUAGE
• Reflexivity
• Displacement
• Arbitrariness
• Productivity
• Cultural Transmission
• Duality
REFLEXIVITY AND
DISPLACEMENT
• Reflexivity: we talk about language (e.g., This
sentence is ungrammatical)
• Displacement: talking about the past, future, or
imaginary things (e.g., Dinosaurs existed millions
of years ago)
ARBITRARINESS

• No natural connection between words and


meanings
• Different languages use different words for the
same object
• Example: 'dog' (English),‫لب‬#
' #‫( 'ك‬Arabic), 'chien'
(French)
PRODUCTIVITY (CREATIVITY)

• Humans create sentences they have never heard


before
• Finite rules, infinite sentences
• Example: 'My smart fridge is arguing with my
phone'
CULTURAL TRANSMISSION

• Language is learned, not inherited genetically


• Children learn the language of their environment
• Example: A child born to Arabic parents but raised
in the US will speak English!
DUALITY (DOUBLE
ARTICULATION)
• Two levels of language organization
• Meaningless sounds combine to create meaningful
words
• Example: /b/ + /i/ + /n/ = 'bin'
ANIMALS AND LANGUAGE

• Some animals can learn symbols (e.g.,


chimpanzees like Washoe, Kanzi)
• They communicate but do not develop full human
language
• Human language remains unique
CONCLUSION

• Language origins are complex and interdisciplinary


• Human language has unique structural properties
• These features allow creativity, abstraction, and
culture

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