1.What do you know about the origin of language? Do we have any direct knowledge of its origins end early development? Name and explain the main theories of language origin?

We have no primary source information about the origin of language or its early development. In 1866, the Linguistic Society of Paris published an edict banning discussion of the topic at their meetings. But now interest is reviving as new methods of analysis and archaeological finds give a new look at what's happened before.

An example is the well-known report by the Egyptian king Psamtik I. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the king wished to know which of all the peoples of the world is the most ancient definition of the ancient language. Psamtik I gave two newborn babies to a shepherd, where they were to live by themselves in a secluded dwelling.

The shepherd taught children for 2 years, but once entering the house, the children fell before him and stretching out their hands and cried becos. As soon as this word was often repeated, the shepherd passed the child to the king. And he heard what they were saying, asked what nation is the word present.

Phrygian is now extinct, but at the time it was spoken in an area corresponding to the northwestern part of modern Turkey.

The story itself was probably invented for the Egyptians themselves, but Psamtik credited with the first initiative.

German academic Wilhelm Wundt in the nineteenth century (1832-1920) has prepared a classification of theories of the origin of language. In his time there were two forms of language, phonetic and gestures, which was engaged in a special place in the theories of the origin of language.

In recent years, modern science wanted to shed light on the question of the origin of language. Such studies as glosso-genetics involve the study of biology, anthropology, psychology, semiotics, neuroscience, Primatology, and linguistics.

2. What are the function of language? Why is language considered to be the main means of communication? How are language and culture interrelated?

1)The Functions of Language

There are 3 basic language features: 1.Informative - to convey information. 2.Expressive - to cause emotion. 3.Performatory - as a symbol, the action and of themselves.

Its most familiar function is informative and expressively. Poetry often combines the informative and the expressive.

In such poems the rhythm and sound of words are expressive in themselves.

A third area of language is the ceremonial. Here the words are performatory, they are an action in themselves and they are complete speech acts. The use of language solely to establish social relations is called “phatic communion” by Malinowski. In all of these performatory utterances, as in oaths, incantations, passwords, and rituals, there must be no change in the exact words.

2)Language interacts with every other aspect of human life in society and is a working system of communication in a definite period and in a certain community. Language is used as the product of the community’s past and the source of its future development. Language couldn’t have come into being without the purpose for communication.

3) There exists a close connection between language and culture. And society and language are mutually indispensable.Language is transmitted culturally, that is learned. Culture in General is transmitted through language.Culture involves, is transmitted by vocal instruction, not by imitation.

Language is part of culture but culture includes many different functions, and the boundaries between cultural features are not clear.