Origins and Theories of Language

The assignment examines different theories proposed by linguists to explain the emergence of language. It discusses theories like the bow-wow, pooh-pooh, ding-dong, yo-he-ho, ta-ta, and la-la theories, each offering a unique perspective on how humans developed communication. The text also acknowledges the ongoing research and mystery surrounding the true origins of language.

1. Describe the process of language acquisition?
Answer:
Introduction:
Language acquisition is a procedure which could take place at any phase of everyone’s
life. Language is an intellectual way that makes us human being. Language acquisition is
the first native language of everyone’s life from the birth time to we start going school.
The process by which people are capable to form words and sentences to communicate
with each other. Language acquisition is not for the non-human being, because they do
not communicate by using any language (Oxford, 2016). Language acquisition is known
as the first language of infants, which helps them to understand their native language.
These language is different from the second Language acquisition, because second
language deals with both children and adult language.
Terminology of Language acquisition:
Language acquisition includes some structure, rules and presentations. To use language
successfully, it requires some tools phonology, morphology, grammar, semantics and
terminology. The capacity of the human language is embodied in the human brain.
Though the human brain capacity is finite, which is capable to understand the infinite
number of sentences. The whole procedure of understanding the sentences by human
brain is based on the recursion principal. It is being suggested that every individual
human being has 3 recursive tool that allows the sentences to go indeterminately. For
every children learning their native language, Linguistics capability develops in phases
from babbling to one word, then telegraphic language. For the children babbling is
known as the first stage of language acquisition because infants will develop the sound
based on what kind of language they receive as input. Holophrastic speech (one word
sentences) are usually monosyllabic in vowel and consonant bands (Owens, 2016).
During second learning phase there are no morphological markers, no variation for plural
and any tense and pronouns are exceptional, but the pitch contour extends over sound.
There are three theories of language acquisition:
 Imitation: the imitation theory does not work because infant produce word and sentences
never heard earlier such as “dog stand up floor.” Even when children try to copy adult
sentences or speech, they cannot able to generate as it is sentences because of their
limited word limit and grammar. But some children who are not able to speak, still they
learn and recognize the form of language.so that, after learning the second form of speech
they immediately begin speaking their native language (Mitchell, et al., 2013).
 Reinforcement: reinforcement does not work because it actually rarely occurs, and when
it does, reinforcement does not correct the grammar it actually correct the pronunciation
of the words or truthfulness. For example a sentence as “ apple are blue” will be correct
more often because the sentence is not true, as compared to “apple is red” regardless of
the grammar.

 Analogy: analogy cannot explain the theory of language acquisition. The term analogy
includes sentence formation, sentence phrasing with the help of other sentences. For
example if a child hears sentence,” I painted a green table,” he might can say, by using
term analogy, “I painted a blue table.” Though if child hears correct sentence which is” I
painted a green table,” child cannot say “ I saw a red table.” This time analogy theory
will not work and also this not an English sentence (Barry, 2017).
Conclusion:
The Poverty of the stimulus tells that children are very curious to know the features of
the grammar for which they get no info. Children are not able to form some sentences
properly and these sentences are not understandable in human language.
References:
Barry, P., 2017. Beginning theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory.
Oxford University Press.
Mitchell, R., Myles, F. and Marsden, E., 2013. Second language learning theories.
Routledge.
Owens Jr, R.E., 2016. Language Development: An Introduction| Edition: 9. Instructor.
Oxford, R.L., 2016. Teaching and researching language learning strategies: Self-
regulation in context. Taylor & Francis.
2. What are the differences between animals and human beings that make
language possible for human beings?
Answer:
Introduction:
What thing differentiate humans from animals, the very first thing that would come in human
mind is language. Language is a very important part of human’s life, it is hard to visualizing
what humans life would be like without language. In fact language referred to it as a body part of
humans. Language term is derived from the Latin word lingua, meaning of lingua is tongue. For
existence in the human society, the very first condition for everyone is Verbal Communication.
Meanwhile animal also communicate, they have their own languages, sign, and sounds to
communicate with each other (Liu, et al., 2016).
Human language VS Animal communication:

Differences Human Animals
Duality of modelling Different sounds called
phonemes. These phonemes
have no meanings. But
human have many ways to
communicate with each other
via words or via sentences
(Tester, 2014).
But animals do not use the
arbitrary sound for
communicate with each other,
they can send limited
messages to their partners.
Creativeness Human can invent new words
easily.
Animals need to send their
messages by signs.

Displacement Human being also can talk
about remote, intellectual,
and imaginary thing that are
not happening in real life.
Animal communication is
context determined: they
react according to spurs, or
indexes.
interchangeability Different genders of human
beings can use the similar
languages for
communication.
Certain communication in
animal word can only use by
one gender wither female or
male.
Cultural Transmission For the human beings it is
must to learn all the words
and sentences (Weber, 2016).
The way by which Animal
can communicate are natural
or biological
Arbitrariness Usually language of human
being involves numbers of
sounds and alphabets which
allow them to communicate
with each other.
Animal language is not
symbolic, they cannot
preserve their thoughts and
ideas for future.
Biology On the biological level
human tongue and voice are
required to generate sounds.
These sound we recognize as
language.
And in case animals they
have different biological
structure.
Variety of languages The language of human can
assemble words into a finite
number of thoughts and ideas.
And in case of animals they
have limited number of signs
and combinations for
communication (Bickerton,
2017).
Uncertainty A word or a sentences, or a
sign, may have many
meanings.
In case of Animal language
every sign has it’s specify one
meaning.
Conclusion:
Human being can arrange and rearrange sounds, morphemes, sentences and phrases in a way so
that they can easily express their ideas and thoughts. Another important term which differentiate
human language and animal language from each other is human language is traditionally

transmitted. Animal language can be informative for example: an eagle might fly away at the
approach of hunter (in these scenario eagle must be frightened form the hunter).
References:
Bickerton, D., 2017. Language and human behavior. University of Washington Press.
Liu, Y.Y., Wang, Y., Walsh, T.R., Yi, L.X., Zhang, R., Spencer, J., Doi, Y., Tian, G., Dong, B.,
Huang, X. and Yu, L.F., 2016. Emergence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mechanism
MCR-1 in animals and human beings in China: a microbiological and molecular biological
study. The Lancet infectious diseases, 16(2), pp.161-168.
Tester, K., 2014. Animals and Society (RLE Social Theory): The Humanity of Animal Rights.
Routledge.
Weber, A., 2016. Objectivity. In Biopoetics (pp. 107-116). Springer Netherlands.
3. Explain how other languages influenced our Modern English?
Answer:
Introduction:
According to a study, Old English is far different from Modern English and half of the
words in English we speak today are totally different from old one. The several language
has been influenced the modern English such as Latin, Greek, French, Germanic, etc.
English is consider widely spoken all across the global. So when talk about the
communication, it is only language which communicates countries and raised the graphs of
tourism. Every country has their own accent and language. When English is added as
second language to their country, then it mixes up with their present accent and lead to
mixture in English language (Jespersen, 2013).
Effect of other languages on Modern English:
The other languages has a vital role in the changing the impact of modern English. It’s not
about the way people speak the English language but how they pronunciation the language.
People in different region have different accent of delivering their sentences and that make
the difference in the modern English. Nowadays people has started making short forms or
acronyms of frequently spoken words. This has become the trend and it has a great impact
on modern English as words are changed like Kind of becomes Kinda, Got to becomes
Gotta, Want to becomes wanna, and much more (Jespersen, 2013).
The two basic pillars has become the reason for vast change in modern English are:
Flexibility of function and Openness of using the vocabulary.

1. Flexibility of function: English is the language which easily gets mixed up with other
languages and doesn’t create lack of communication. Due to its so easily fitted nature,
people use it very often and experiments it by using it with their language.
2. Openness to vocabulary: This is the language where one can forms its own words by
stretching it or by shortening it (Algeo, and Butcher, 2013).
3. It is quite easy to use English with any language. In result of this, people started using it
with different languages then slowly steadily it started becoming to make changes in
Modern English.
4. The language which played major role were Celtic, French, Latin, Greek, Norman,
Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Indian, German, Old Norse, and Arabic. It was not always
people who mixed it up English with other language but English has borrowed several
words from other languages across the globe and made itself a finest and widely spoken
language in the world.
5. There are thousands of other historic books, poetry, and other historic readings that are
written in Old English, yet now they are again written it in Modern English. This shows
that people no longer understands the Basic Old English and turning them towards the
modern one. The impact of other languages has made it to do so.
Conclusion:
At current scenario, Modern English is spoken into 67 countries. There are 27 non sovereign
well-known entities which are using this language such as United Nations, Commonwealth of
Nations, Council of Europe, GUAM Organization of Democracy and Economic Development,
Turkic Council, etc. People have introduced many forms of alphabets and style of writing the
alphabet in English (Pennycook, 2017). It has lead to changing in the writing style and also lead
to from a new era Modern English. In a nutshell, Modern English may have a vital influence
from other languages but it somewhere making the language easy for the people to use and
understand. It is somewhere filling the gap between the countries. More of people can learn and
understand it, it will help world to connect in a better way and people from different countries
will come closer.
References:
Pennycook, A., 2017. The cultural politics of English as an international language. Taylor &
Francis.
Algeo, J. and Butcher, C.A., 2013. The origins and development of the English language.
Cengage Learning.
Jespersen, O., 2013. A Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles: Volume 5, Syntax
(fourth Volume) (Vol. 5). Routledge.

Jespersen, O., 2013. Language: its nature and development. Routledge.
4. Discuss the theories on the origin of language.
Introduction:
The earth has its existence from millions of years and humans are the only creature which has
developed so far. But It’s a question that, how the Adam and Eve had communicated with each
other? Researchers see a so many ancient caves where the wall art representing the life of that
era. But these signs language probably turned in to writing and slowly human had a different
variety of languages with them. It is quite clear that language came into action much earlier
before writing. Early man has started this revolution of making different Arts of walls and
creating some kind of signs which they used to perform while communicating to each other. As
the time passes, human mind started developing which lead to development to the lifestyle.
There are still questions in mind like how people use to communicate in early ages? Why wall art
were introduced? How writing came into practice? I may not have exact answer for every
question, the linguists has suggested some theories which may not tell the exact origin but
explain some part of the origin of language (Jespersen, 2013).
Origin of languages:
Let’s go through some different theories by some genius who tried finding the origins of the
language:
1. The bow-wow theory:
The first things came into mind was the people imitating the sounds to communicate with each
other. The sounds like bow-wow, baa, moo, hoo, etc. Everything which we talk about them is not
likely to be true but it’s just an assumption that we made (Mitchell, et al., 2013).
2. The pooh-pooh theory:
This tells the idea of vocal response that comes automatically when a person is in pain, fear,
laugh, etc. But somewhere many animals sounds same so it can’t end up to language.
3. The ding-dong theory:
This theory was favoured by Plato and Pythagoras. This idea of speech reflect the connection
with one another which cannot be common. It reflects some Mystrical resonance with the world
that is unclear to one to investigate.

4. The yo-he-ho theory
This idea of speech comes from rhythmic chants and making grunts by the people by which they
were able to communicate. We have also seen in many movies that tribal use usual words in
rhythmic way to convey their message to each other (González, and Melis, 2014).
5. The ta-ta theory
This idea has the complete gesture thing like people using ta-ta for saying goodbye with their
tongue. These were somewhere common but again it sometimes may lack communication.
Not always tongue can explain the gestures to communicate but when one wants to speak loudly
then making noise from tongue somewhere lacks.
6. The la-la theory:
The Danish linguist Otto Jespersen suggested this theory. This speech has sounds which has
sounds of affection, care, poetic, and songs. This one is beautiful form than any above mentioned
theory (Barry, 2017).
Conclusion:
These were just a small part of assumptions by our linguists all over the world to analyse the
origin of the language as the language has made us connect to each other. We cannot imagine this
world without the language and we may not have evidence of where it got originated but surely
human beings are obliged to their ancestors who gave them such a blessing to us. Even today,
many linguists are researching on the root of the language but then, nature has evidence of
forming such a beautiful art and sometimes it’s not necessary to find root of everything, rather,
appreciate it and take it for coming generation.

References:
Barry, P., 2017. Beginning theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory. Oxford
University Press.
González, R.D. and Melis, I., 2014. Language Ideologies: Critical Perspectives on the Official
English Movement, Volume II: History, Theory, and Policy. Routledge.
Jespersen, O., 2013. Language: its nature and development. Routledge.
Mitchell, R., Myles, F. and Marsden, E., 2013. Second language learning theories. Routledge.