By: Samvedh Cheruvu
Language is a fundamental part of the human experience. In its fullest complexity, it is exclusive to humans and defines much of our modern existence. But how did our primate ancestors develop such an intricate system of communication, and why did no other species do this?
Human language is arguably the most unique of our capabilities as a species. It can discuss future events, and ponder worlds of potential events and outcomes, and its sentences and words can compound upon themselves nearly infinitely. Yet most other forms of communication in the animal world consist only of a handful of vocalized signals, indicating the presence of a predator or food, or a call to mating.
While research is still occurring on the capabilities of ape and whale communication, it is clear that even in highly controlled environments, their advancement is insignificant compared to that of human language.
Numerous factors contributed to the human species gaining these abilities. One popular theory is that, like other animals, homo sapiens started communicating using basic vocalizations, such as grunting. This basic communication system, coupled with the larger brains and greater cognitive capabilities of hominids, supposedly led to language as we know it today over the course of hundreds of thousands of years.
However, there is still much disagreement on the topic amongst linguists. The Linguistic Society of Paris even banned research on this question in 1867 because of the scarcity of credible evidence. Despite this, various theories postulate a framework by which language might come to be.
For example, Noam Chomsky, world-renowned for his work in the field, proposed the idea that language is innate to humans as a result of a random gene mutation around 100,000 years ago.
Others argue that we initially identified objects, people, and events with sequences of sounds we produced in the form of single words, which eventually enabled us to speak more in-depth about these things with one another.
From there, we developed more of the nuances of human language like grammar and symbolic meaning. This theory is supported by the rudimentary speech and constructions of young children learning their first language.
One contrasting theory is that language actually came from lengthy and rhythmic songs from our primate ancestors playing with, mating with, and calling to one another. Many experts support this theory because other species that predate us, such as birds and frogs, exhibit similar capabilities to sing. Music likely came before language in humans, so it is possible that the sing-songy expressions of early humans came to be associated with the objects, emotions, and ideas we know today.
Regardless of the origins of language, it is an incredible tool that has played an immeasurable role in our advancement as a species and as a society. The formal study of this fascinating system of communication is known as linguistics. If you would like to learn more about this subject, stay tuned for the upcoming blog reviewing the Coursera course “Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics”.
Great post!