We refer to to the 4 sources of language origin discussed in George Yule's importance book, The Study of Language. I have added something to the Divine Source; Some Quranic verses have been added to it!

1. Origins of Language
Prepared by
Ismail Abdulrahman Perdawdy,
MA in English Language &Linguistics, Lecturer
Department of Translation Techniques,
Erbil Administrative Technical Institute
Erbil Polytechnic University
2017

2. In this seminar, we will to try answer
the following questions
2
1.What is language?
2.How did language originate?
3.What are the reasons behind
the diversity of languages in
our present day?
Origins of Language

3. What is Language?
Origins of Language 3

4. Language is one of
the best means by
which humans
communicate.
Origins of Language 4

5. Importance of language
Language:
Is everywhere
permeates our thoughts
Mediates our relations with others
Creeps into our dreams
And in it,
Human knowledge and culture is stored and
transmitted.
So, without it, all the above points are IMPOSSIBLE!
Origins of Language 5

6. How and when did
language originate?
Origins of Language 6

7. Most of the Western Linguists &
Philosophers believe
There was a time when people didn’t
have the ability to talk.
Humans developed language between
100,000 and 50,000 years ago (but, written language
appeared 5000 years ).
There is no physical evidence about when
and how of language in humans emerged.
All what is said in this regard is a matter
of speculation. Origins of Language 7

8. Some of these speculations are from
four different sources
Divine
Source
Natural
Sound Source
Physical
Adaptation
Source
Genetic
Source
Origins of Language 8

9. Natural Sound Source
The suggestion of this source is:
 Primitive words could have been imitations of
natural sounds which early men heard around
them.
CAW-CAW sound of flying objects
COO-COO sound of a flying creature.
 People started to imitate the sounds and named
the objects and creatures with these sounds.
Origins of Language 9

10. In addition to cuckoo
 Splash
 Bang
 Boom
 Rattle
 Buzz
 Hiss
 Roar
This is known as bow-wow theory
Onomatopoetic words
Origins of Language 10

11. The problem of ‘bow-wow’ theory
Origins of Language 11
How reference was made to the:
o Soundless words
o Abstract concepts

12. Natural cries of emotion
• Pain: Ouch!
• Anger: Ah!
• disgust: yuck!
These are produced with intakes of breath!
But normal spoken language is produced when
air is exhaled rather than inhaled!
Origins of Language 12

13. Yo-he-ho theory
Sounds made due to physical effort involving
several people could be the source of our language:
• Grunts
• Groans
• Curses
This theory is based on the social and cultural
cooperation found among early men.
However, apes have grunts but they do not have
a language like ours!
Origins of Language 13

14. Natural
Sound Source
Bow-wow
theory
Natural cries
of emotion
Yo-he-ho
theory
Origins of Language 14

15. Physical
Adaptation
Source
Origins of Language 15

16. Physical Adaptation Source
Origins of Language 16
This source depends on the physical
features humans possess, especially
those that are distinct from other
creatures

17. Human physical features that help
language
• Human teeth are upright / f, v/
• The lips are made of intricate muscles /p, b/
• The tongue is also helpful.
• Human larynx (voice box: containing vocal cords)
pharynx (resonator).
• Human brain: left hemisphere, in most of the people is
responsible for controlling the above organs of speech.
Origins of Language 17

18. Genetic
Source
Origins of Language 18

19. The Genetic Source
Origins of Language 19
• The reason why physical adaptation takes
place in humans & why deaf and dumb can be
fluent sign language users is answered by
supporters of innateness hypothesis (human
offspring are born with a special capacity for
language).
• The language capacity is genetically hard-
wired in born babies.

20. Origins of Language 20
Divine
Source

21. Divine Sources
In most of the worlds religions
language is regarded as a gift from
gods to the humans:
Hinduism: Saraswati (Sarasvati),
Brahma’s wife, has given language to
humans as a gift.
In Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Origins of Language 21

22. Quran
Origins of Language 22
And He taught Adam the names of all
things; then He placed them before the
angels, and said: "Tell me the names of
these if ye are right."

23. Origins of Language
23
He has taught him [man] speech
(and intelligence).

24. Some experiments
Psammetichus 2500 years ago King James IV, 1500
Origins of Language 24
Bekos: bread in Phrygian Hebrew
Other experiments resulted in speechless children!

25. Why do people speak different
languages if they first had one language
Origins of Language 25

26. Christianity: Language diversity is a
curse to humanity!
Origins of Language 26

27. Quran: Language diversity is one sign
of God’s Supreme Power
Origins of Language 27

28. •َ‫س‬ِ‫ل‬ِ‫ب‬ ‫ا‬‫َّل‬ِ‫إ‬ ٍ‫ل‬‫و‬ُ‫س‬َ‫ر‬ ْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫َا‬‫ن‬ْ‫ل‬َ‫س‬ ْ‫ر‬َ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫ن‬ِ‫ي‬َ‫ب‬ُ‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬ ِ‫ه‬ِ‫م‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ق‬ ِ‫ان‬ۖ ْ‫م‬...
We sent not a messenger
except (to teach) in the
language of his (own)
people, in order to make
(things) clear to them
Origins of Language 28

29. Origins of Language 29
Every one of you will talk to your Lord while there is no interpreter
between you and Him! (the translation of the meanings)

30. Origins of Language 30
The End

31. Origins of Language 31
Thank you very
much for your
presence
‫بؤ‬ ‫سوثاس‬‫ر‬‫ؤ‬‫ز‬
‫نتان‬‫و‬‫ئامادةبو‬
‫شكرا‬
‫على‬
‫الحضور‬