Perhaps, language replaced grooming {grooming} as social groups became larger [Dunbar, 1996].
Perhaps, imitation abilities associate with larger brains and language {imitation and language} [Blackmore, 1999].
Human language probably evolved from primate graded calls {vocalization}. In Homo habilis, advanced vocal cords and brain language areas allowed better communication.
Before words existed, context gave meaning to sounds {metaphorical stage}. Later, sounds carried meaning without context.
Before protolanguage, there were words for objects and events {word origin}. Perhaps, words originate by onomatopoeia or sound-symbolism [Smith, 1985].
Before language {prelanguage}, brains must have ideas of number, case, gender, noun, verb, modifier, tense, gerund, infinitive, particle, preposition, and article. Before language, brains must have spatial and temporal ideas, such as line, group, boundary, figure, background, movement, ascending, descending, association, attraction, and repulsion.
Before language, there were semi-semantic and semi-syntactic word-association rules {protolanguage}. Rules order words into subject-verb-object, make broader categories from objects, use categories to specify objects, and combine words and gestures. Later, word associations evolved to associate words and speech-part categories and then make complete sentences [Corballis, 2002]. Probably, language first described situations. Then language described speaker thoughts. Then language described hearer characteristics and thoughts.
Language came from protolanguage {ursprache}.
Earliest language was essentially natural, poetic, and creative {creative language}. Later languages were more logical, artificial, and precise.
Social convention adopts words {word, convention} {convention, word} [Bloom, 2000].
Perhaps, words express attitudes and try to cause attitudes {boo-hoorah theory}.
Perhaps, manual gestures can have meaning and syntax {gestural theory}, and brain language centers control first arm movements and then vocal tract. Speech frees hands and arms and allows communication at night [Browman and Goldstein, 1991].
Perhaps, human speech began as reactions to pains or emotions {interjectional theory} [Bickerton, 1981] [Bickerton, 1990] [Bickerton, 1995] [Chagnon, 1992] [Smith, 1985].
Perhaps, human speech began as sound imitations {onomatopoeia} {onomatopoeic theory} [Bickerton, 1981] [Bickerton, 1990] [Bickerton, 1995] [Chagnon, 1992] [Smith, 1985].
Perhaps, human speech began from meaningless chants {sing-song theory} [Bickerton, 1981] [Bickerton, 1990] [Bickerton, 1995] [Chagnon, 1992] [Smith, 1985].
Perhaps, words began from sounds used in physical activities, sound quality or tone changes, and sound metaphors {sound-symbolism} [Smith, 1985].
Angular gyrus and TPO connect vision and hearing sense qualities to cause synesthesia. Hand and mouth motor areas are adjacent and move similarly {synkinesia}. Visual areas link to Broca's motor area. Emotional vocalizations start from right hemisphere and anterior cingulate. Perhaps, visual-auditory, hand-mouth, and mouth-visual brain areas evolve to work together {synesthetic bootstrapping theory}. Perhaps, tool-making steps became syntax and nested phrases {hierarchic embedding} [Ramachandran, 2004].
Perhaps, human speech began from spontaneous work grunts {yo-he-ho theory} [Bickerton, 1981] [Bickerton, 1990] [Bickerton, 1995] [Chagnon, 1992] [Smith, 1985].
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Date Modified: 2022.0225