Theories of language origin:
Ø The origin of language dates back to 6000
years ago. The major history was through guesses and written evidences.
Ø We simply don’t know how language
originated.
Ø E. Sapir says, “Most of these theories are
hardly more than exercises of the speculative imagination”
1. Bow- wow or Cuckoo theory:
Ø Theory by Max Muller.
Ø Human speech originated in man’s attempt to imitate the sounds of
nature.
Ø From cries of beasts and birds. Ex: Dog’s Bow-vow; Cow’s Moo, Cat’s
meow.
Ø There are number of words in English vocabulary in support of this
theory. Ex: hiss, whistle, gurgle, prattle, hoopoe, peewit, cuckoo etc.
Ø Words sometimes said to be onomatopoeic.
2.Pooh-pooh theory:
Ø Origin of language from involuntary exclamations involuntary
exclamations triggered by emotions like pain ("ouch!"),
surprise ("oh!"), or joy ("aha!").
Ø Ex. "wow" or "yikes" in
modern languages.
Ø As a theory of the origin, it stands upon a very slippery ground.
3. Ding Dong theory:
Ø Correspondence between sound and sense by a law of nature, (reaction
to the world around him)
Ø People associate sounds with objects
Ø Ex: zigzag, dazzle, big big(reduplication)
Ø At one stage it was upheld by Max Muller but later it was
abandoned.
Ø According to Prof. Taraporewala, the Hindi word “Jana Gana”, “Jog
Mog” and a large number of Bengali words may come under this.
4. Yo- he - ho theory:
Ø Rhythmic chants, grunts people use. (Communal rhythmic chants)
Ø Noire enunciated this theory.
Ø Source of speech in a group (in social contexts)
Ø during physical work, the sounds emitted in cries and shouts,
might come to be associated with work performed.
Ø Ex: heave or haul alternating with sounds such as ho.
5. Ta-ta Theory:
Ø Proposed by Sir Richard Paget, Subset of gesture theory,
Ø from use of tongue and mouth movements
Ø Ex: Ta-ta might have originated from waving hand–bye-bye
6. La La theory:
Ø Speech emerged from the sounds of inspired playfulness, love,
poetic sensibility, song, romance.
Ø Otto Jespersen (Danish Linguist)
7.Gesture Theory:
Ø
Language
originates in gesture.
Ø
Primitive people
communicated with one another by means of gestures made by hand, and ultimately
the language-equivalents were substituted for these gestures.
Ø
Theory was
formulated and advocated by Wilhelm Wundt and Sir Richard Paget.
Ø
Sir Percy Nunn in
his book Education, its Data and First
principles develops his theory in full. And Macdonald Critchley deals with
it elaborately in his work, The language
of Gesture
Ø
In pronunciation
of I and Me, the lips are drawn inwards,
Ø
In pronunciation
of you and thou lips are moved outwards.
8. Biblical/divine source theory: monogenic- from God
o
Biblical- God
created Adam; and Adam named all living things; origin of language is in 2nd
chapter of Genesis.
o
In Hindu
mythology, Saraswathi created language (wife of Brahma)
o
In Greek
Mythology, Psamtik created language by experimenting on 2 children.
9.
The Musical Theory (Sing-Song Theory)
Ø Proposed by Otto Jespersen, evolved from musical expressions, such
as chants, lullabies, and rhythmical sounds
10. The genetic source (innateness) theory: Automatic set of development in young children. Ex: Chomsky’s Universal Grammar.
Ø FOXP2 gene: Genetic basis for
speech/language supports innateness.
MCQs on Theories of Language Origin
1.
Which theory suggests that language originated from imitating natural sounds
like animal cries?
A.
Pooh-Pooh Theory
B.
Yo-He-Ho Theory
C.
Bow-Wow Theory
D.
La-La Theory
2.
The "Pooh-Pooh Theory" is associated with:
A.
Rhythmic labor chants
B.
Involuntary emotional exclamations
C.
Divine creation of language
D.
Gestural communication
3.
Who proposed the Ding-Dong Theory, later abandoned due to its reliance on a
vague "law of harmony"?
A.
Otto Jespersen
B.
Max Müller
C.
Wilhelm Wundt
D.
Noire
4.
The Yo-He-Ho Theory links language origin to:
A.
Playful songs and romance
B.
Rhythmic group labor (e.g., chants)
C.
Divine intervention
D.
Tool-making skills
5.
Which theory claims language emerged from gestures like waving hands (e.g.,
"ta-ta" for "bye-bye")?
A.
Gesture Theory
B.
Ta-Ta Theory
C.
Tool-Making Theory
D.
La-La Theory
6.
The La-La Theory, proposed by Otto Jespersen, connects language to:
A.
Tool-making
B.
Playfulness, song, and romance
C.
Divine sources
D.
Rhythmic chants
7.
Which theory is supported by examples like zigzag and big big (reduplication)?
A.
Ding-Dong Theory
B.
Bow-Wow Theory
C.
Pooh-Pooh Theory
D.
Genetic Source Theory
8.
The Biblical/Divine Source Theory is exemplified by:
A.
Adam naming animals (Genesis)
B.
Saraswati creating language (Hinduism)
C.
Psamtik’s child experiment (Greek myth)
D.
All of the above
9.
Which theory explains lip movements for pronouns like I/me (inward) vs. you
(outward)?
A.
Ta-Ta Theory
B.
Gesture Theory
C.
Tool-Making Theory
D.
Innateness Hypothesis
10.
The FOXP2 gene is linked to which theory of language origin?
A.
Social Interaction Source
B.
Genetic (Innate) Source
C.
Physical Adaptation Source
D.
Natural Sound Source
11.
Which theory is linked to the example of "heave" and "haul"
during group labor?
A.
Pooh-Pooh Theory
B.
Yo-He-Ho Theory
C.
Ding-Dong Theory
D.
La-La Theory
12.
The Innateness Hypothesis (Chomsky) argues that language ability is:
A.
Learned through social interaction
B.
Biologically pre-programmed
C.
Derived from tool-making skills
D.
A divine gift
Answer
Key
|
1. C |
2. B |
3. B |
4. B |
5. B |
6. B |
7. A |
|
8. D |
9. B |
10. B |
11. B |
12. B |
|
|
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