LLCU 200 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Noam Chomsky, Universal Grammar, Bermuda Shorts

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Languages, Literatures and Cultures
• Course: LLCU 200
• Professor: Donato Santeramo

Document Summary

Language sets humankind apart from all other species. Many believe that if we were capable of solving the enigma of the origin of language we would solve the mystery of life itself. The theories concerning the origin of language are also known as echoic theories. There are three basic versions plus two less accredited ones but in our view equally important ones. Bow-wow theory: language originated when our primordial ancestors started imitating the sounds of animals. Pooh-pooh theory: language originated when our early ancestors started uttering instinctive noises and interactions with their vocal apparatus to their emotional states. Ding-dong theory: language originated when our hominid ancestors started observing and imitating the noises made by various objects. La-la theory: gesture preceded vocal speech and that language developed later from our ancestors articulating the gesture forms. Yo-he-ho theory: language developed from social cooperation. It is necessary to distinguish from language and speech.