What is language ?

• Language means system of sounds, words, pattern used by humans to

communicate their thoughts and feeling. So, language is the source of
expression of thought by means of speech sounds. Language is the
most powerful convenient and permanent means and form of
communication.
When we define language, we must be careful not to exclude symbols,
gestures and motions. This is because if we exclude these from our
definition, we will be denying the language of the DEAF community.
Importance of language
• Language is an extremely important way of interacting with the
people around us. We use language to let others know how to feel,
what we need, and to ask questions.

Language is the light of the mind. (John Stuart Mill)

Language of course is knowledge, and in our world today knowledge is

one of the key factors in competitiveness.
Importance of language
• (1) Language is the important means of expression.
• (2) Language unites the people of the world.
• (3) Language is the basis of a developments.
• (4) Language is the medium of education.
• (5) Language is a kind of union between speaker and listener.
• (6) Language is related to culture.
• (7) Language in social life.
• (8) Importance of language in trade , commerce and industry.
Origin Of Language
• The origin of language in the human species has been the topic of
scholarly discussion for several centuries. Despite this, there is no
consensus on the ultimate origin or age of human language.

• Human origin is language origin (Fromkin and Rodman)

There are two main hypothesis or belief of the origin of language.

(a) The  divine source theory
(b) The Natural Sound Source Theory
 The  divine source theory
The Divine Source. In most religions, it is believed that language is a
God-given gift to human species. So, God punished them by separating
their languages. People tried to discover the original divine language
which was spoken by our most ancient ancestors.
The  divine source theory

• According to Hindu mythology

the language came from
goddess Sarasvati, wife of
Brahma, creator of universe.
The  divine source theory
• According to Christian belief
God after creating the world
created Adam and
“whatsoever Adam called
Every living creature that was
the name thereof” (Genesis,
2:19)
The  divine source theory
• For Egyptians, it came from Thoth.
Thoth is the Egyptians god of writing,
magic, wisdom and the moon. He
was one of the most important gods
of ancient Egypt alternately said to
the self-created or born of the seed
of Horus from the forehead of set.
The  divine source theory
• For Muslims, the source is Allah.
Allah is usually thought to mean
“the god” (Allah) in Arabic and is
probably cognate with rather the
derived from the Aramaic Alaha.
All Muslims and most Christians
acknowledge that they believe in
the same god even though their
understanding differ.
The Natural Sound Source Theory
The idea behind the theory is that the first
humans imitated animal sounds in order to
refer to a certain animal. So, when the first
humans heard a bird making a tweet-sound
they could have imitated that sound to tell one
of their fellows.
Theories of Language
• Yo Heave-Ho Theory
• Bow- Wow Theory/ Imitated Theory/Onomatopoeic Theory
• Ding Dong Theory
“Yo Heave-Ho Theory”
• Origin- Late 19th century and earliest use found in oxford Review. So, it is a speculative
theory.
• According to this theory the language evolved from the sounds made by person involved
in physical efforts-grunts, groan and swear words – indicating that language developed in
social context.
• Eg- Those work songs “would have to match the rhythm of the work that had to be done”
yo-heave-ho, for instance could have been used when a group of humans was trying to
lift something up.

• According to this hypothesis, language arose in rhythmic chants and vocalisms uttered by
people involved in communal labor. The first humans might have developed a set of
various grunts or calls that were uttered in a certain rhythmic order to provide a group
with instructions. Those „work songs“ would have to match the rhythm of the work that
had to be done, „yo-heave-ho“ for example could have been used when a group of humans
was trying to lift something up.
Drawbacks and criticism

• It fails to explain the various other

aspects of language development.
Apes have grunts and social call, but
they did not develop the capacity to
speech.
 Bow- Wow Theory/ Imitated Theory/Onomatopoeic Theory

A bow-bow theory is any of the theories by various scholars, including Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Johann
Gottfried Herder, on the origins of human language. Bow-wow theories suggest that the first human languages
developed as Onomatopoeia, imitations of natural sounds. The name “ bow-wow Theory” was coined by Max
Mller, a Philogist who was critical of the notion. The bow-wow theory of largely discredited as an account of
the origin of language, through some contemporary theories suggest that general imitative abilities may have
played an important role in the evoloution of language.

• This is also known as Imitation theory because this theory believe that primitive man was inspired to express
himself through speech b imitating cry of birds , the call of animals.
• Bow- wow – Sound of dog.
• Ka-Ka sound of crow.
• Critized by Ranon – He said man is different form animals and birds because he can think and arrguement.

• The idea that speech arose from people imitating the sounds that things make : Bow-Wow, Moo, Baa, Hiss,
Meow, Quack-Quack etc.
• In other words, the first human words were a type of index, a sign whose form is naturally connected with
the meaning in time and space.
Drawback of bow-wow theory

• Unfortunately, this theory only works to a limited extent as it becomes

quite difficult to imitate the sound of a rock, a tree or a cave. The bow-
wow theory does not adequately explain the creation of words for
inanimate or soundless objects, nor does it explain how grammar or
syntax developed. The bow-wow theory seems to assume that a
language is only based on a set of words naming objects, therefore it is
not considered to be a complete explanation for the origin of language.
Ding Dong Theory
• A theory that language originated out of a natural correspondence
between objects of sense perception and the vocal noises which were
part of early humans' reaction to them.

• Language began when humans started naming objects, actions and

phenomena after a recognizable sound associated with it in real life. This
theory holds that the first human words were a type of verbal icon, a
sign whose form is an exact image of its meaning: crash became the
word for thunder, boom for explosion.