This document discusses different views about the origin and nature of language. It covers the following key perspectives: - Divine Source view that language originated from God as described in Genesis. - Natural Evolution Hypothesis view that language evolved naturally over time through human interaction and development. - Structuralist view that language can be described and analyzed as an observable system of systems with systematic ordering. - Cognitivist view that language is an innate, creative, and mental ability that all children acquire in learning their first language. - Functionalists view language as a dynamic social system for exchanging information between members of a speech community. - Interactionists view language as a tool for establishing

1. Introduction to
Linguistics
Views about language

2. Origin of
Language

3. Origin of
Language

4. Divine Source
Genesis 11:1-9

6. Natural Evolution Hypothesis

7. Natural Evolution Hypothesis

8. Natural Evolution Hypothesis

9. Natural Evolution Hypothesis

10. Views about language
• Structuralists
• Cognitivists
• Functionalists
• Interactionists

11. Structuralist
Language can be described in terms of
observable and verifiable data as
it being used. According to structuralists,
language can be interpreted by the
following:

12. Language is primarily vocal
Language is a speech, primarily made
of vocal sounds produced by the speech
apparatus in the human body.

13. Language is primarily vocal

14. Language is a system of
systems
Language are arranged in certain
fixed or established systematic
order to form meaningful units
or words.

15. Language is arbitrary
Language has no inherent relation”
between the words of a language
or the ideas conveyed to them.
Bird Ibon?

16. Language is a system of knowledge but in
abstract form
Cognitivists

17. The presence of language
acquisition device in the human
brain predisposes all normal children
to acquire their first language in or
around five years of age
Language is Innate

18. Native speakers produce and understand
sentences they have not heard before.
Language is Creative

19. It is not mechanical and not observable.
Language is
mental phenomenon

20. All normal children the world over
acquires a mother tongue. All languages
have sounds and rules that form sounds
into words to phrases and to sentences.
Language is universal

21. Language is a dynamic system through
which members of speech community
exchange information.
Functionalists

22. Expressing one’s
emotion
Persuading people
Asking and giving
information Making people do
things for others.

23. Interactionists
Language is a vehicle for
establishing interpersonal
relations and performing
social transactions between
individuals

24. 150 words
Applying the 4 major
views in language, what
do you think is the
reason why do we have
many dialects in our
country?