Scribd
Upload
16 views1 page

Language

The document discusses the evolution of language, tracing its origins from divine theories to organic development linked to the psychological growth of early humans. It highlights how the development of Homo sapiens, including physical and cognitive advancements, facilitated the emergence of language as a tool for social interaction and governance. Additionally, it explains the dynamic nature of language, emphasizing how variations and changes can lead to the formation of dialects and distinct languages over time.

Uploaded by

Puipui Ralte
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
16 views1 page

Language

The document discusses the evolution of language, tracing its origins from divine theories to organic development linked to the psychological growth of early humans. It highlights how the development of Homo sapiens, including physical and cognitive advancements, facilitated the emergence of language as a tool for social interaction and governance. Additionally, it explains the dynamic nature of language, emphasizing how variations and changes can lead to the formation of dialects and distinct languages over time.

Uploaded by

Puipui Ralte
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Introduction :

Language is a term, which due to its range of applications, has prompted innumerable definitions. In
the early part of the 18th century, theories of the origin of language proposed that language was of
Divine Origin. However, in the latter part of the 18th century, speculation on the origin of language
moved from the realm of divine origin and fancy to what is called the “organic phase.”

In order to formulate a credible theory of the origin of language, it is important to learn about the
psychological development of early man. According to Anthropologists, the development of the
species Homo sapeins, also led to the development of language – the upright posture gave humans
additional visual range, their eyes became stereoscopic, further improving their vision. The cerebral
cortex, virtually non – existent in the lower creatures, developed tremendously in the evolving
human. It was with this major development that the human being graduated to reasoning powers –
and began to speak.

The power of language helps man to influence others and forges social contact, apart from enabling
him to build suitable mechanisms for the governace of a society or a country. Thus, language by its
nature is dynamic and variable. There is no such thing as uniformity in language. Variation and
language change occurs through a period of time.Where constant communication takes place among
the people speaking a language, individual differences become merged in the general speech of the
community, and a certain conformity prevails. The differences may be slight if the separation is slight
and we may have merely local dialects.

On the other hand, they may become so considerable as to render the language of one district
unintelligible to the speakers of another. In this case we may have the development of separate
languages. Even where the differentiation has gone this far, it is usually possible to recognise a
sufficient number of common features which the resulting languages still retain in common to
indicate that at one time they were one.

You might also like