The Evolution and Nature of Human Language
The Emergence of Language
The Relationship Between Population and Language
It is said that the emergence of language is related to the number of inhabitants of a given population. Why? Because as the number of inhabitants of a given population increases, there is an increasing need for communication and therefore language.
The Role of the Brain and Physical Structures
Talking: More Than Just Brain Work
Talking is not only a thing of the brain, but also involves the larynx, pharynx, lips, mouth, and vocal cords. The low position of the larynx, compared with that of other animals, is what has allowed us to produce a wide range of sounds.
The Origins of Languages
Currently, many scientists hold the view that there was an original language from which different languages were born. This would explain the striking resemblance between some very different languages. Moreover, the most recent contributions of archaeologists and geneticists support this hypothesis.
Characteristics of Human Language
The human language has a number of traits or characteristics. Some of the most notable include:
- Acquired: While there are certain innate constraints, language is primarily acquired through learning.
- Articulated: Language is articulated, meaning that with a limited number of messages, an infinite number of possibilities can be created, highlighting the creativity of language.
- Conventional: There is no inherent relationship between signals and the objects they designate. The meaning of words is based on convention.
- Symbolic: Words are symbols that stand in place of things.
The Nature of Language Use
What is Talking or Using Language?
It is the process by which someone says something to somebody about something, using a code in a given context of interaction.
Syntactic Dimension
When we use language, the syntactic dimension refers to the proper use of signs. Analyzing language from its syntactic perspective is essential for understanding its structure.
Semantic Dimension
The semantic dimension of language refers to the meaning of words and phrases. It involves using language to talk about the world and our experiences.
Functions of Language
Language serves several important functions:
- Referential Function: Language allows us to transmit information, capture reality, interpret it, and report on it.
- Dialogue: Language enables communication with others, sharing thoughts, and fostering human interaction.
- Social and Cultural Development: Language reflects social and cultural contexts, conveys social opinions and beliefs, and serves as a vehicle for opinion formation.
Philosophical Perspectives on Language
Traditionally, philosophy has focused on language as a means of apprehending the world and as a tool for communication. A current philosophy of language should address all aspects of language.
Theories of Language Acquisition
Skinner’s Behaviorist Theory
According to Skinner, the child babbles a series of sounds, and when a hit occurs spontaneously in language, their behavior is reinforced. For example, the child babbles, and suddenly he seems to say”mama” which causes the joy of his mother, who is on your side. This joy acts as positive reinforcement. This theory adequately explains the acquisition of vocabulary, however, acquiring vocabulary is not the same as mastering a language. Being able to speak a language not only involves learning words, but also knowing and using a set of combining rules. These rules constitute the grammar of the language. However, behaviorist theory does not explain how the child is able to learn or know many rules, so he proposes a new theory.
Chomsky’s Innatism Theory
According to Chomsky’s theory, syntax and basic grammar rules are innate, not learned. This ability to use language and learn words is called”universal grammatical competence” which is unique for all languages.
Reconciling the Theories
One can say that both theories are partially true. On one hand, we learn the vocabulary socially (behavioral theory), and on the other hand, speaking a language presupposes certain mental structures or categories (innatism theory).
Stages of Language Acquisition
First Six Months
In the first six months, babies’ sounds and cries become increasingly identifiable with the vowel and consonant phonemes of the language they hear.
Twelve Months
what happens?
The child produces and pronounce words repeated vocalizations through imitation. It is more capable of understanding what is told to produce meaningful words. You can mouth words to refer to people or objects around you.
18 – Idem. And the year after two years what happens? And after two years what happens?
After two years the child begins to form longer sentences, grammatically correct and above all, to expand their vocabulary.
19 – One of the most important functions of language is referential, what is done with it?
With it, the language actually says and refers to the world. Studying the relationship of language and the world is the subject of semantics, whose primary mission is to determine the meaning of linguistic expressions.
20 – How do we define meaning?
It establishes the relationship between language and reality, between words and things.
21 – What are the kinds of language that humans have allowed a different approach to reality?
Since humans have always wanted to account for the complexity of reality and of itself, for which it has used and uses multiple languages. Each type of language has enabled a different approach to that reality, they all contain a different way of referring to it. For example, we use natural language (if we want to only communicate and function in the world), a scientific language (if we rigor or accuracy), a poetic language (if we want to highlight qualities obscured by other languages ) or religious language (when we point to different ways of seeing reality and the human being in it).