Discussion Post Required With 2 Responses – Urgent A+ Work Required. 10 Hours

Title: The Origin of Language

Thread: It is clear from a biblical and scientific perspective that language is a uniquely human activity. The scientific enigma that encompasses language origin centers on whether language can be a naturally evolving entity or whether it points to and requires a designer. There is ample biblical information supporting the emergence of language from a creator. However, there are many people who will reject the Bible as a reliable source. Therefore, develop a response to someone asking about the origin of language using nonbiblical and scientific support. Be sure to include APA formatted references and citation.

References:

Taylor, C.  (1997). The Origin of Language. Journal Creation.   https://creation.com/origin-of-language

Vajda,E.  (2001)The Origin of Language.   http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/vajda/ling201/test1materials/origin_of_language.htm

Replies: Respond to at least 2 of your peers’ comments with a rich and relevant response. 

I will post the Responses to be done after I have uploaded the main POST. however, I will make the payment for Both Upfront.

I will need the Response to be sent as soon as I post the 2 RESPONSE POSTS

ENGL 633

Discussion Board Forums Grading Rubric

0 points
Not present.

10 to 10 points
Rich, relevant, thoughtful, multi-paragraph response to a peer’s thread.

8 to 9 points
Relevant, thoughtful, paragraph response to a peer’s thread.

1 to 7 points
Relevant, thoughtful, response to a peer’s thread.

0 points
Not present.

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Not Present

Points Earned

0 points
Not present.

Page 1 of 1

The whole purpose of language is to communicate. We like to think of ourselves as language experts because we teach reading and grammar; however, the ultimate purpose of language is to interact and communicate ideas, feelings, directions, etc. Having good grammar and prose are important, but the substance that we communicate is just as important. The origin of language is a subject that evokes many opinions based on limited data. I say limited because to study the origin of language requires studying pre-history—before writing. Since studying a period so long ago is challenging due to the lack of empirical evidence, we can only draw general inferences based on linguistic anthropological research of fossils, artifacts, and other clues (Stam, 1976). There is evidence that the earliest people did not have a written language. Cave art and other sketches suggest that they communicated with a set of symbols and pictures. Since many people from pre-historic times had such an array of communicational methods, we can assume that there was no singular origin of language that we can verify. Even today, there are several languages and customary ways that different people communicate. Language continues to shape and shift, and they are impacted by culture and the mediums in which we communicate. Whether it was cuneiform, hieroglyphics, or the English language, I believe we were designed to come up with our own ways of communication. Even non-verbal ques are ways in which we can communicate. Perhaps God created us to have the ability to adapt and conform to our situations and specific needs. There are many interesting theories as to how people first began to communicate—even though much of it is speculation. The most interesting theory that makes sense to me is the “mother tongues” hypothesis. The “mother tongues” hypothesis was first proposed by W. Tecumseh Fitch in 2004 (Fitch, 2004).

According to Fitch, the first language acquisition was between mothers and their newborn children. Through nurturing, soothing, and other means of communication, a language between two beings coincided. (Fitch, 2004). This eventually evolved into more complex communication and language as the child grew. One could argue that that theory wouldn’t explain distant relatives; however, if we started with just one person or a few, it could be a legitimate theory. Regardless of how or when language first developed, it is imperative to understand that the purpose of language is to communicate. Grammar and mechanics are important, but the substance of what is being communicated is just as important.

References

Fitch, W.T. (2004). Kin Selection and “mother tongues”: a neglected component in language evolution. Evolution of Communication Systems, 275- 296.

Stam, J.H. (1976). Inquiries into the origins of language. New York: Harper and Row, p.255.

Although Scripture attests quite clearly to language origins, simply referring to Scripture as an ultimate source does not always hold up in man’s realm of reasoning. I hold true to the sufficiency of Scripture, as well as Scripture’s divine inspiration from the Holy Spirit (English Standard Version, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s Word is absolutely accurate in the arguments and explanations it provides concerning man, man’s purpose, and the history of the world (Hebrews 11:1-3). The beauty of Scripture’s authenticity is that the Lord gave us many extra-biblical accounts and testimonials that support what it claims. Contrary to other religious transcripts that additional supports, many resources conclude with Scripture again and again. One of these resources is the human brain. According to an article retrieved from the popular Creationism journal, Answers in Genesis, “The morphological requirements for speech do not rely on the existence of a single organ, but depend on the simultaneous availability of a voice-producing mechanism,” and that mechanism is the intricate trichotomy of “a suitable throat cavity (together with the tongue), and a highly complex control system (the brain)” (Gitt, 2012). This scientific fact leads to the next unique observation that these human body parts are connected for one specific reason: speech and the formation of words, which then form into a common language. The connection of these body parts could not merely connect by the process of evolution. The likelihood “[I]s totally unreasonable to believe that such a marvelous structure could have originated without purpose” to use Dr. Gitt’s words (Gitt, 2012).

     In addition to the connection of the throat, tongue, and brain, another observation comes into play. When an infant is beginning to learn his parent’s language and formulate words, he looks to his parents and people around him to help him begin to speak. If language was non-existent in the prehistoric era then humans had no reference to help them begin to speak and converse. Therefore, a child with no parents to teach him language would be like a computer without software. The abilities may have been there, but there was not structure or example to make it happen (Gitt, 2012).

     Both of these examples sound pretty simplistic and yet surveying them at the core reveals Intelligent Design and purpose in creation. Without children learning the specific words and communication of their parents, then language would have died off centuries before. If it were really as simple as a few words used for communication by “cavemen” then it could not have survived and spread into multiple languages and dialects. The very anatomy of the human body points to intentional and intelligent design. Every cell, neurotransmitter, and muscular function has a purpose and follows a plan to permit humans to live and function in this world. This does not happen by mere chance, it happens by an Intelligent Designer who wanted to communicate with his creation and allow his creation to communicate with each other (Revelation 21:3).

(Total word count: 491)

References

Gitt, W. (2012). The origin of human language. Answers in Genesis. Retrieved from https://answersingenesis.org/evidence-for-creation/22-

the-origin-of-human-language-ob2/.

Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:

Turnitin Report

Formatting

Title Page

Citation

Outline

Place an Order