This document discusses theories around how and when human language emerged. It notes that there is disagreement among scholars on key questions like what constitutes "having" language, whether language is learned or acquired, and whether it developed gradually or all at once in human evolution. The document also outlines various fanciful historical theories proposed by philosophers and linguists around how language may have originated through actions like imitating animal calls, expressing emotions, or noticing unique sounds made by objects. One view presented is that language is hardwired into the human brain at birth through an innate "core grammar."

1. HOW AND WHEN IS
LANGUAGE POSSIBLE?

2. GROUP 8
NURYULIYANA (1852142005)
DIYAH ISTIQAMAH (1852142009)
FARIS RAFI FITRAH NOOR (1852142018)
MAQVIRA NURDIYANTI (1852142019)
NURUL PERMATA ADINDA (1852142022)
RIZA SAFITRI (1852142023)

3. Generally language is a system of conventional spoken, manual
(signed), or written symbols by means of which human beings,
as members of a social group and participants in its culture,
express themselves.
The functions of language include communication, the
expression of identity, play, imaginative expression, and
emotional release.
WHAT IS
LANGUAGE?

4. THE LANGUAGE DEFINED BY EXPERTS
Henry Sweet
Gumperz (1972)
“Language is the expression of ideas by means
of speech-sounds combined into words. Words
are combined into sentences, this combination
answering to that of ideas into thoughts.”
“A language is a set of rules enabling speakers
to translate information from the outside world
into sound.”

5. CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE
01
A language is systematic
03
A language is social
05
A language is productive or
creative
02
A language is said to be
arbitrary
04 A language is spoken
06 A language is complete for its
native speakers

6. There is remarkably little agreement regarding how
and when human language may have emerged. This
is partly because there is remarkably little agreement
among scholars regarding what it means to “have”
language. There is even disagreement over whether
humans “learn” language or whether they “acquire” it.
In addition, there is considerable difference of opinion
regarding whether human language emerged all at
once, at a single moment in human evolution, or
whether it developed gradually over a long period of
time, as well as whether human language is
qualitatively or quantitatively different from other
kinds of animal communication.
H O W I S
L A N G U A G E
P O S S I B L E ?

7. Philosophers and linguists
proposed all sorts of fanciful
theories and presented and
defended them vigorously. They
suggested, for example, that
language began as people
imitated animal calls (bow-wow).
They suggested that language
began as people expressed pain
or emotion (ouch!). They
suggested that language began as
people noticed that certain objects
had unique imitable sounds of
their own (ding-dong). They
suggested that language began as
people worked together (yo-he-
ho).
Theories about Language
Beginnings

8. Language is already hardwired into
the human brain birth. In this view,
a genetically built-in "core
grammar" provides a universal set
of rules. Language hard-wired in
brain, language acquisition device
helps with adjustments compares
specific languages with the core
grammar and helps children to
make the necessary adjustments
as they acquire specific languages.
W H E N I S
L A N G U A G E
P O S S I B L E ?

9. THANK YOU
for watching:)
and we hope you’re understand!