Language and Culture Prof. R. Hickey ss 2006 The evolution of language

Language and Culture Prof. R. Hickey SS 2006 The evolution of language

• Melanie Lüth (Hauptstudium, TN) Ivo Tateo (Hauptstudium, TN) Brigitte Knocke Martina Kleinebreil (Grundstudium, TN/LN) Frauke Skrobaschewsky (Hauptstudium, TN/LN)

Table of Contents

• The Study of Language
• Language Origin
• The Evolution of Language
• The Emerge of Rule
• The Expansion of Language
• Diffusion of Language

The Study of Language

• Melanie Lüth

Theories

• language must have evolved between 100,000 to 50,000 years ago; some researchers date the evolving around 250,000 years ago
• Different ludicrous views:
• Noah’s Ark view: Chinese as primitive language was spoken in the Ark and so survived the flood
• Lord Monboddo: people learned different skills from different animals → to sing and speak from birds by imitating