Theories about the origins of language:

1. The mama theory. Language began with the easiest syllables

attached to the most significant objects.

2. The ta-ta theory. Sir Richard Paget, influenced by Darwin,

believed that body movement preceded language. Language began
as an unconscious vocal imitation of these movements -- like the
way a child’s mouth will move when they use scissors, or a tongue
sticks out when you try to play a guitar.

3. The bow-wow theory. Language began as imitations of

natural sounds -- moo, choo - choo, crash, clang, buzz, bang,
meow... This is more technically referred to as echoism.

4. The pooh-pooh theory. Language began with interjections,

instinctive emotive cries, such as oh! for surprise and ouch! for
pain.

5. The ding-dong theory. Some people, including the famous

linguist Max Muller, have pointed out that there is a rather
mysterious correspondence between sounds and meanings. Small,
sharp, high things tend to have words with high front vowels in
many languages, while big, round, low things tend to have round
back vowels! Sound symbolisms are as follows: itsy bitsy teeny
weeny with moon.

6. The yo-he-ho theory. Language began as rhythmic chants,

perhaps ultimately from the grunts of heavy work (heave-ho!). The
linguist D. S. Diamond suggests that these were perhaps calls for
assistance or cooperation accompanied by appropriate gestures.
This may relate yo-he-ho to the ding-dong theory, as in such words
as cut, break, crush, strike...

7. The sing-song theory. Danish linguist Jesperson suggested

that language comes out of play, laughter, cooing, courtship,
emotional mutterings and the like. He even suggests that, contrary
to other theories, perhaps some of our first words were actually
long and musical, rather than the short grunts many assume we
started with.

8. The hey you theory. A linguist by the name of Revesz

suggested that we have always needed interpersonal contact, and
that language began as sounds to signal both identity (here I am!)
and belonging (I’m with you!). We may also cry out in fear, anger,
or hurt (help me!). This is more commonly called the contact
theory.
9. The hocus pocus theory. Language may have some roots in a
sort of magical or religious aspect of our ancestors' lives. Perhaps it
began by calling out to game animals with magical sounds, which
became their names.

10. The eureka theory. Language was consciously invented.

Perhaps some ancestor had the idea of assigning arbitrary sounds to
mean certain things. Clearly, once the idea was had, it would catch
on like wild-fire!

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Written by :Tariq Hayat Lashari in 2002.