Language is a system of symbols and rules used for human communication, encompassing both spoken and written forms. Various theories suggest its origins, including divine sources, natural sounds, and social interactions, each presenting unique perspectives on how language developed. The document explains multiple theories such as the bow-wow theory, pooh-pooh theory, and the belief in innate language capacity in humans.

2. What is language?
Language is a system of symbols and
rules that constitute the method of
human communication,either spoken
or written, consisting of the use of
words in a structural and
conventional way .
Theories of origin of language
• The Divine Sources
• Natural sound sources.
• The Bow-wow Theory.
• The Pooh-Pooh Theory.
• The Social Interaction.
• Physical Adaptation
Sources.
• Tool-making Sources.
• The Genetic Sources.

3. The Divine
Sources
As per Book of Genesis,God Created
Adam and "Whatsoever Adam called
every living creature,that was the name
thereof"
THE BIBLE
TRADITION
Language Came from
Sarasvati, The wife of
Brahma,the Creator of
the Universe.
THE HINDU
TRADITION
He taught Adam the names of
everything, and then showed them
to the angels. He said, "Tell me the
names of these if you are so sure
of yourselves."(Al-Baqarah 2-31)
THE QURANIC VIEW

4. Natural Sound
Sources
Supports the belief that language is
the outcome of natural sound
sources,sound produced by different
objects (Birds and Animals) like Caw-
Caw,Coo-Coo,etc.
BOW-WOW
THEORY
Belief that language developed by
instinctive, sounds produced in any
of the emotional circumstances,like
in pain,anger,or happiness. Sounds
in pain Ouch! in Wonder Wow!,etc
THE POOH-POOH
THEORY
Belief that sounds produced when
person involved in physical efforts
are the sources of origin, Jespersen
called this "Yo-he-ho"theory.
THE SOCIAL INTERACTION
THEORY

5. Physically designed in such a way that
automatically produce speech,human being
possses such features(Lips,
Tongue,Teeth,lyrnx ,phyrnx and nose) that
makes it distinguish from other creatures like
birds and animals,Some animals posses
human like features but they can't produces
speech sounds

6. Tool-Making
Sources
Belief that as human being using
their hands and brain started
making stone tools or wooden
tools, is one of the source of the
origin of language.

7. Human babies are born with a special capacity
for language,it is innate,no other creature
seems to have it, it is not tied to specific variety
of languages. it is possible that language
capacity is genetically hard-wired in the
human Brain.

8. Thanks For
Watching