GROUP 2
MEMBERS:
Michelle S. Baylon
Marisa Balamula
John Christian Nebit
Jorito Angkoy
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Objectives
• Define the definition of Language and culture.
• To know what is the origins of language.
• To learn how did language originate.
• To learn how did language begin.
LANGUAGE
A system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group cooperates.
In addition by Henry Sweet. The expression of ideas by means of speech-sounds combined into
sentence and this combination to that ideas into thoughts.
CULTURE
▪ Refers to the cumulative of deposit of the knowledge experience belief, values, attitudes, meanings
and hierarchies.
▪ Culture provides important Social and economic benefits
ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE
ACOUNTSOF ORIGIN
1.Biblical
Tower of Babel-Genesis 11:9, therefore it's name is called Babel because there the Lord confused all the
language of the earth.
2. HISTORICAL
(Max Muller 1861)
Max Muller, have pointed out that there is a rather mysterious correspondence between sounds and meanings.
• Bow-Bow
• Pooh-Pooh
• Ding-dong
• Yo-he-ho
3.MYTHOLOGICAL
• Greek Mythology
• East African People
• The American Great Flood
A Bernard says "MYTHS" are never just stories, they always concept in the context of a mythological
systems, which is specific to a given society or cultures.
ACOUNTS OF THE ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE
ACQUISITION
Bernard Campbell states in Humankind Emerging, "We simply do not know, and never will, how or when
language began"
❖ Theories and Hypotheses about the origin of language
• THE BOW-BOW THEORY
This is based on the ideas that humans imitate the sounds of the animals call. According to this theory,
language began when our ancestors started imitating the natural sounds around them.
• THE POOH-POOH THEORY
This arose with the idea that people make instinctive sounds. According to this theory, speech comes from
automatic vocal response to pain, fear, surprise and other emotions such as love, dread, or guts.
• THE DING-DONG THEORY
This is based on the notion that people react to the world and make sound symbolism. According to this
theory, the speech arose in response to the essential qualities of the object in the environment.
• THE YO-HE-HO THEORY
This is based on the proof that humans create rhythmical grunts which later developed into chants to address
physical environmental needs. According to this theory, the speech started with grunts, snore, as well as
chants and rhythmic sounds.
• THE LA-LA THEORY
The romantic side of human life is the sole factor that is responsible for the creation of language. According to
this theory, Speech originated in song, play, laughter and many romantic side of life.
• GENETIC MUTATION OF NOAM CHOMSKY
Noam Chomsky postulates in his theory that language was created from a genetic mutation from one of our
human ancestors. This human ancestors developed the ability to speak and understand language and he passed
this on to his offspring.
•
➢
o
o
o
o
VOCAL GROOMING OF DUNBAR
Robin Dunbar's Theory
Grooming to Gossip
Language develop as a form of " vocal grooming"
It enables social bonds to be maintained with more individuals physical grooming
Over time it developed more complexity
•
➢
o
o
o
"PUTTING THE BABY DOWN" HYPOTHESIS
Dean Falk
an anthropologist
suggest that language developed from early humans-the mothers in particular.
"motherese" an infant-directed communication system that includes body language.
• WILLIAM DWIGHT WHITNEY
According to him "The basis of the origin of language was the natural cries of human beings, expressive of
their feelings, and capable of being understood as such by their fellows."
o The origin of language is human beings cries of their feelings.
o Human beings come to use imitative or onomatopoetic utterances as the reproduction of the sound of
crying.
❖ Examples of onomatopoetic utterances:
o
o
o
o
o
Animal Noises
Collision
Explosive Sounds
Movements of air, water, and objects
Human Noises
“to God be the glory”