TY - JOUR
T1 - The Evolutionary Origins of Language
T2 - Validating a New Theory
AU - Shalini, V.
AU - Perono Cacciafoco, Francesco
N1 - SHALINI, V, and Francesco PERONO CACCIAFOCO. (2023). The Evolutionary Origins of Language: Validating a New Theory. Annals of the University of Craiova: Series Philology, Linguistics / Analele Universității Din Craiova: Seria Ştiințe Filologice, Linguistică, 45, 1 / 2: 403-460
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, Editura Universitaria Craiova. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/12/11
Y1 - 2023/12/11
N2 - The origins of language have long been a subject of debate and speculation. Although hypotheses of how language might have originated have been formed, these hypotheses are outdated at best and no attempts have been made to improve on these theories or to formulate new ones. This study hence aims to devise a new theory discussing the origins of language by taking into account the shortcomings of existing theories and resolving these to form a new, more comprehensive theory. The new theory is structured as a process which, rather than only suggesting a single point from which language might have originated, focuses on detailing the entire process from language origin to present day modern language. This study also aims to provide evidence to substantiate the validity of the theory through reviews of existing research and analysis of documented proto-languages such as Proto-Indo-European (PIE) and Proto-Austronesian (PAN). Several areas of research that may provide further support for the theory will also be suggested. As such, this study will demonstrate that the issue of language origin does not have to be speculative in nature and can be based on tangible evidence such as hominin anatomy, genetics, documented proto-languages, and even modern languages.
AB - The origins of language have long been a subject of debate and speculation. Although hypotheses of how language might have originated have been formed, these hypotheses are outdated at best and no attempts have been made to improve on these theories or to formulate new ones. This study hence aims to devise a new theory discussing the origins of language by taking into account the shortcomings of existing theories and resolving these to form a new, more comprehensive theory. The new theory is structured as a process which, rather than only suggesting a single point from which language might have originated, focuses on detailing the entire process from language origin to present day modern language. This study also aims to provide evidence to substantiate the validity of the theory through reviews of existing research and analysis of documented proto-languages such as Proto-Indo-European (PIE) and Proto-Austronesian (PAN). Several areas of research that may provide further support for the theory will also be suggested. As such, this study will demonstrate that the issue of language origin does not have to be speculative in nature and can be based on tangible evidence such as hominin anatomy, genetics, documented proto-languages, and even modern languages.
KW - Human Language
KW - Language Evolution
KW - Language Theories
KW - Historical Linguistics
KW - Comparative Linguistics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85200120094&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.52846/aucssflingv.v45i1-2.115
DO - 10.52846/aucssflingv.v45i1-2.115
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85200120094
SN - 1224-5712
VL - 45
SP - 403
EP - 460
JO - Analele Universitatii din Craiova - Seria Stiinte Filologice, Lingvistica
JF - Analele Universitatii din Craiova - Seria Stiinte Filologice, Lingvistica
IS - 1-2
ER -
