1. The Divine Source.
Answer:
Biblical Source:
In the book of Genesis, God created Adam and “whatsoever Adam called every
living creature, that was the name thereof.”
Hindu Tradition: Language
came from Sarasvati, wife of Brahma, creator of the universe.
Concept in ISLAM:
And he taught Adam the names-all of them. Then he showed them to the angels and
said, " Inform me of the names of these, if you are truthful.
Basic assumption of Divine Source Theory:If
human infants were allowed to grow up without hearing any language around them,
then they would spontaneously begin using the original God-given language.
* BUT: Children discovered living in
isolation do not confirm these findings but grow up with no language at all.
* Criticism: Divine source is impossible to
prove/disprove and the 'first language' is impossible to reconstruct!!
* Plato argues that a legislature gave the
correct, natural names to all things.
* In many religions, only "special"
languages may be used in prayers and rituals.
Limitations of The divine source
theory:(Do you think limitation
of theory? )
I think there have some
limitation of divine source theory. Children who have been
discovered living in isolation, without coming into contact with human speech,
tend not to confirm the results of these types of divine-source experiments.
Very young children living without access to human language in their early
years grow up with no language at all.
2. The Natural Sound Source
The other theory says that the beginnings of
human speech is based on the concept of natural sounds that means that early
men and women imitated the natural sounds heard around them, e. g. when they
heard a flying object making cuckoo sound, that natural sound was adopted to
refer to that object. In all modern languages there occur some words
pronunciation of which seem to “echo“ natural sounds e. g. bang, hiss, buzz,
splash... This theory is called BOW-WOW theory and the words echoing natural
sounds are called onomatopoeic. There are a lot of abstract words so we are
rather sceptical about the view that a language is only a set of words which
are based on natural sounds. One other “natural sound“ proposal is known as
YO-HEAVE-HO THEORY. These are sounds of a person involved in physical effort
when that effort had to be coordinated (to pull a rope, lift a log, push a big
stone...)
Limitations of natural
sound source : I think there have some
limitation of divine source theory.
Limitations of natural sound
source theory - While it is true that a number of words in any language are
onomatopoeic, it is hard to see how most of the soundless things as well as
abstract concepts in our world could have been referred to in a language that
simply echoed natural sounds - We might also be rather skeptical about a view that
seems to assume that a language is only a set of words used as “names” for
things.
3. The Social Interaction Source
·
‘The “Bow-bow” Theory’
All languages have sounds that mimic the natural sounds.
These are called onomatopoeic words. Some examples from Turkish are şırıl
şırıl, hav hav, miyav, lıkır lıkır, etc. One belief is that human languages
originated from these onomatopoeic words that mimic the sounds of entities or
actions to which they refer. Thus, for example, miyav originally would be a
word to refer to cats.
·
‘ The “Pooh-pooh” Theory’
According to this assumption language originated with the
use of sounds that reflect emotions such as pain, fear, hunger, surprise, and
the sounds of laughter and crying, etc. Some examples of these sounds are üf,
ayyy, yaa, vay, etc. However, these sounds of emotion do not necessarily exist
in the vocabulary of human language. Therefore, it is not plausible to assume
that sounds of emotion are the basis for human language.
‘The “Yo-heave-ho” Theory’
According to this proposal, early human beings used some
sounds when they were doing some collaborative work. For example, when they
were lifting a huge animal that they hunted, they used sounds to do their task
for physical coordination and to reach their message to their friends that they
share the burden of their job. It is claimed that these sounds eventually
turned out into a language.
· Limitations of The
social:
I think there have some limitation of divine source
theory.
Limitations of The social interaction source : Human
sounds must have had some uses within the life and social interaction of early
human groups. This relates to the social aspect of the functions of language.
It does not answer our question about the origins of the sounds produced.
4. The physical adaption source
Mouth and Tongue
- Relatively small mouth
compared to other primates: can be opened and closed more rapidly
- Smaller, thicker and more muscular
tongue that can be used to shape a wide variety of sounds
- Airway
through the nose can be closed off to create more air pressure in the
mouth.
Larynx and Pharynx:
* Larynx is " voice box" in your
throat containing the vocal folds or vocal chords
* Due to upright position, head moved
directly above the spinal column and larynx dropped to a lower position
* As a result, the pharynx (cavity above the
vocal folds, acts as resonator) became longer=> increased range and clarity
of sounds
* Disadvantage: Due to lower position of
pharynx, humans may choke more easily on food => ability to speak must have
outweighed this disadvantage for humans
* Criticism?
LIPS:
* More intricate muscle interlacing
* More flexible
* Capable of a wider range of shapes
* Suitable for making sounds such as 'p' or
'b'
The physical adaption source:
The reconstructed vocal
tract of a Neanderthal suggests that some consonant-like sound distinctions
would have been possible. In the study of evolutionary development, there are
certain physical features which appear to be relevant for speech. However, such
features would not necessarily lead to speech production.
5. The genetic source:
* Young babies go through developments: small
brain, larynx higher in throat=>
changes take place => Almost automatic set
pf development
* Even children who are born deaf become
fluent speakers of a sign language
=> claim that human offspring are born
with a special capacity for language(innateness theory)
* Capacity for language genetically
hard-wired into newborn humans?
Descriptive between comparative
linguistics ( compare context)?
Answer:
Definition
of "Context"-
As
a comprehensive concept, 'context' refers to all the elements of a
communicative
situation:
the verbal and non-verbal context, as well as the social context of the
relationship between the speaker and hearer, their knowledge, and their
attitude.
Context:
*
Linguistic context
*
Situational context
*
cognitive context
*Linguistic
context/co-text:
-
set of other words used in the same phrase or context
-
As the word 'pupil' is a homonym
-
How do we know which meaning is intended
*
Usually by means of the linguistic context:
-
If it is used in a sentence with words like 'teacher', 'classmates' etc.
-
we understand that pupil here means?
-
If it is used in a sentence with words like 'eye', 'dilatation' we know that
here it means?
Sub parts of Context:
1.
Physical Context
-
Where the conversation takes place
-
What objects are present
-
What actions are taking place
2.
Epistemic context
-
Background knowledge shared by speakers and hearers
3.
Linguistic context
-
Utterances previous to the utterance
4.
Social Context
-
Social relationship and setting of speakers and hearers
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