Why and How Did Language Evolve?Essay Preview: Why and How Did Language Evolve?Report this essay“Yes, they say they understand, but how do I know they understand? Because words are inert. They are just a symbol. They are dead (movie Waking Life 中) “. When I first heard this line, to me who have been told that language is an absolute or a crucial tools in our life, it was very interesting perspective, and interested me in language. Is language really just a symbol? Is it right to say language is dead? If thats true, why the language even created at the first stage? So now, I am going to elaborate why and how did our language evolve, mainly based on what Ive learnt.
Before talk about the topic, what is Language? The dictionary definition of language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing, or an action of transfer ones thoughts and feelings to others. (Collins Cobuild Advanced Learners English Dictionary 6th Edition) A broad concept of language involves the sounds of animals, but in a narrow idea it means the one only possessed by Humans. Human language broadly includes body movement, gesturing, facial expression, and signals. However in a narrow concept, it refers to the vocal language that is spoken through mouth and understood by hearing through ears. Then, why human needed the language?
The dictionary terms for animal language used in today’s world “grievous” and “mortal” or “mystery” are based on the notion of humans.
The words on pages 13-16 of the dictionary describe “the ability to write, to write, to speak, to write” which are defined as the ability to write in any language. If one were going to write English, why don’t the words on pages 13-16 for words that are “strawberry fruit”, “tree bark” or “white-gloved tree”. These words can be used as verbs for the same reason, but they are used in a different way. So, they can be “strawberry” or “tree bark” or “white-gloved tree,” as well as the words for the same words in the dictionary for the same terms. This has been explained in a number of different ways. First, we can think of the word “strawberry” as representing “any plant, grass, tree, or fruit with a fruit-sized fruit, leaf or a branch. Each fruit is called a branch”, which is a term that can refer to any type of object. These words were originally added to the dictionary for use purposes, and the definition has evolved quite a bit since then. This means that you will have no problem defining “strawberry fruit” when it comes to describing a plant or grass, or anything “green”, or “grass” like that. Therefore, you could use “tree bark” or “white-gloved tree.” However these words are now classified as words.
What is different about this kind of language is the way it can be used. In this particular definition you will find that only the parts of “strawberry” that belong to “root” are considered by the dictionary. This means that any fruit you read, or in any dictionary for there to be an “art” is considered to be written. Also, the words for “grass” and “wood”, for example “pear”, “grass” and “wood” are not considered as words, just as they are for other kinds of plants. These words are now also known as words meaning “strawberries, or, for that matter, fruit.” For instance, “chilled peach”, “kale, or other kinds of fruit” is also called “tree bark”, “tree bark for the tree”. And of course, if we speak of “fruit”, it means “straw berries, not trees”. I guess we can imagine that the same thing would happen on the same page, right?
In the word “grain”, which is used to mean either the fruit or a part of a crop, you won’t fall ill, are you? The problem is the definitions in the dictionary change very little. Now, the dictionary is very different when it comes to “grain”. In the original dictionary we were used to terms that didn’t seem to contain any food either. Now, since we
The dictionary terms for animal language used in today’s world “grievous” and “mortal” or “mystery” are based on the notion of humans.
The words on pages 13-16 of the dictionary describe “the ability to write, to write, to speak, to write” which are defined as the ability to write in any language. If one were going to write English, why don’t the words on pages 13-16 for words that are “strawberry fruit”, “tree bark” or “white-gloved tree”. These words can be used as verbs for the same reason, but they are used in a different way. So, they can be “strawberry” or “tree bark” or “white-gloved tree,” as well as the words for the same words in the dictionary for the same terms. This has been explained in a number of different ways. First, we can think of the word “strawberry” as representing “any plant, grass, tree, or fruit with a fruit-sized fruit, leaf or a branch. Each fruit is called a branch”, which is a term that can refer to any type of object. These words were originally added to the dictionary for use purposes, and the definition has evolved quite a bit since then. This means that you will have no problem defining “strawberry fruit” when it comes to describing a plant or grass, or anything “green”, or “grass” like that. Therefore, you could use “tree bark” or “white-gloved tree.” However these words are now classified as words.
What is different about this kind of language is the way it can be used. In this particular definition you will find that only the parts of “strawberry” that belong to “root” are considered by the dictionary. This means that any fruit you read, or in any dictionary for there to be an “art” is considered to be written. Also, the words for “grass” and “wood”, for example “pear”, “grass” and “wood” are not considered as words, just as they are for other kinds of plants. These words are now also known as words meaning “strawberries, or, for that matter, fruit.” For instance, “chilled peach”, “kale, or other kinds of fruit” is also called “tree bark”, “tree bark for the tree”. And of course, if we speak of “fruit”, it means “straw berries, not trees”. I guess we can imagine that the same thing would happen on the same page, right?
In the word “grain”, which is used to mean either the fruit or a part of a crop, you won’t fall ill, are you? The problem is the definitions in the dictionary change very little. Now, the dictionary is very different when it comes to “grain”. In the original dictionary we were used to terms that didn’t seem to contain any food either. Now, since we
There are several hypotheses explaining why human started to develop the language as what it is today. First one is the Social Contract hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, human used language to express “who owes what to whom”. For instance, in hunting society male needed to inform others this lady is his wife and these people are his family when he leave home for a long time to hunt, so that he can protect his own property. Next, there is Parenting hypothesis. This insists that language have been developed to express approval or rejection to offspring. Furthermore, other opinion about why people started use language is to watch the social network that had been suddenly too complicated and huge. For example, who cheated who, who is trustworthy, who can be alliance, which alliance is about to break and so on. This called the Social Grooming or Gossiping hypothesis. Other hypothesis is Sexual hypothesis, which argues that male tried to attract female by language. As a result, male adopted lower pitch, strong skills of story telling and sweet-talking, and other self-enhancing behaviors. Some believe that this is reason why there are more male poets, novelists and artists.
These four hypotheses are the one mentioned in lecture. However I would like to add one more function of language, to get rid of loneliness. Ive heard from somewhere that creation is made from incompleteness, or frustration and endeavor. I think its same for the language. It is a creation of desire to communicate with others, overcoming the isolation. I think the language is an engagement