ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2349-2317 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJMRM/issn. 2349-2317/2015; Volume 3 Issue 1 (2016) www.elkjournals.com ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ON THE ORIGIN AND SPREAD OF LANGUAGES: PROPOSITIONING TWENTY- FIRST CENTURY AXIOMS ON THE EVOLUTION AND SPREAD OF LANGUAGES WITH CONCOMITANT VIEWS ON LANGUAGE DYNAMICS Sujay Rao Mandavilli ABSTRACT This paper purports to be a starting point to revisit existing approaches dealing with the origin and spread of languages in the light of the changed circumstances of the Twenty-first century without in any way undermining their applicability across space and time. The origin of spoken languages is intricately and inseparably interwoven and intertwined with the origin of human species as well, and in this paper, we propose a ‘Wholly- independent Multi-Regional hypothesis of the origin of Homo sapiens’ in response to both the highly-controversial and arguably antiquated ‘Out-of-Africa theory’ which we have stridently and vehemently opposed, along with all its protuberances and the contending Multi-Regional Hypothesis as well. The key tenets of this paper are therefore articulated based on this fundamental premise which is likely to upend existing presumptions and paradigms to a significant degree. Having said that, we must hasten to add that the evolutionary biology of language encompassing physical anthropology or genetics and other related areas of study, are wholly outside the purview of this paper. Structural linguistics and semantics are also outside the scope of this paper. In this paper, we examine the origins of spoken and written languages in pre-historic, proto-historic, historic, pre-globalized and post-globalized contexts and propose an ‘Epochal Polygenesis’ approach. As a part of this paper, we also provide a broad overview of early and current theories of the origin and spread of languages so that readers can compare our approaches with already existing ones and analyse the similarities and differences between the two. We propose and define several new concepts under the categories of contact-based scenarios and non-contact based scenarios such as the autochthonous origin of languages, the spread of properties of languages from key nodes, ‘Theory of linguistic osmosis’ and the need to take historical and political factors into account while analysing the spread of languages. In this paper, we also propose among others, the ‘Theory of win-win paradigms’ and the ‘Net benefits approach’. We also emphasize the need to carry out a diachronic and synchronic assessment of the dynamics of languages spread and propose that this be made a continuous process so that the lessons learnt can be used to tweak and hone theories and models to perfection. This paper is likely to significantly up the ante in favour of a dynamics-driven approach by undermining the relative torpor now observed in this arguably vital sub-discipline and contribute greatly to the rapidly emerging field of language dynamics. We also hope that synchronic linguistics will finally get its due place under the sun in the post-globalised world, and will become a major driving force in linguistics in the Twenty-First Century. ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2349-2317 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJMRM/issn. 2349-2317/2015; Volume 3 Issue 1 (2016) An Introduction to language languages in the world today, some of A language may be defined as a mode of which are unlikely to be full-blown or communication which is intrinsic to all independent languages in their own right, human societies around the globe and some of which are unaccompanied by regardless of their social or intellectual scripts or literary traditions. The count of advancement or accomplishments. A languages, of course varies widely from language is usually specific to a source to source, and depending in part on community and is a mode of the methodology adopted for considering communication with a set of rules which languages as full-fledged ones. According are formalized over a period in time. to one survey carried out by the Academie According to Noam Chomsky, “A francaise, there were only 2,796 full-blown language is a either a finite or infinite set of languages in the world towards the end of sentences, each finite in length and the Twentieth century, though other constructed out of a finite set of elements.” sources and surveys suggest a larger According to Edward Sapir, language, may number of full-fledged languages. At the be defined as “A purely human and non- other end of the spectrum, The Ethnologue, instinctive method of communicating listed the total number of languages in the ideas, emotions and desires by means of world as 6,809. Unlike written languages, voluntarily produced symbols.” (Sapir the date of origin of spoken languages 1921:8) According to Bloch and Trager, cannot also be pinpointed with accuracy in “A language is a system of arbitrary vocal the absence of direct or indirect evidence, symbols by means of which a social group despite the fact that some work has been co-operates.” (1942:5) According to Hall, done by researchers such as Alello and “Language is an institution whereby Dunbar, among others and estimates of the humans communicate and interact with date of origin of spoken language vary very each other by means of habitually and oral- widely between 75,000 years before the auditory arbitrary symbols.” (Hall present to over a million years before the 1968:158) Languages have been known present. Languages may be primarily and attested from at least the dawn of classified into two forms i.e. spoken and human history, although they are likely to written. Written languages typically be much, much older. There are believed to comprise of a formal dictionary of symbols be between five to seven thousand or lexemes, while spoken language itself is comprised of a formal grammar, and relies ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2349-2317 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJMRM/issn. 2349-2317/2015; Volume 3 Issue 1 (2016) on patterns or combinations of sounds to with nationalism and ethnocentrism … is express ideas and thoughts, and so closely tied to the individual self. Fear combinations of such ideas or thoughts, to of being deprived of communicating skills express extremely complex ideas and seems to raise political passion to a fever thoughts. All languages spoken around the pitch.” 1 2 3 world today demonstrate some level of Properties of language standardization and complexity, although this may not necessarily have been the case Language is characterized by several during the dawn of spoken language. distinct properties such as Displacement Language is typically acquired by humans (Ability to encode messages that refer to early in childhood by imitation, and the past, present, future or other locations), language is typically formal or structured Semanticity or meaning, Syntax or with a set of codified or uncodified rules. combination of phonemes to convey more Language is the basis of much of human complex ideas, Encapsulation of messages, accomplishment in the fields of science, Arbitrariness (Absence of a direct co- arts, music or literature, and human relation between an object and the word civilization as we know it, would most representing it), Productivity or Creativity certainly not have been possible without and the constant coinage of new words language. Language also plays a critical through innovation and change, Cultural role in the transmission of knowledge, and transmission to future generations, therefore augments civilizational Discreteness of words and their meanings, complexity. Language is also inseparably Learnability (a speaker of one language can associated with culture and human emotion learn almost any other language subject to as the ability to communicate is seen as a certain constraints and limitations), very vital tool and is deep-rooted in the Interchangeability between speakers and human psyche. As Henry Bretton (1976, p. listeners, Organization of sounds to form 447) points out: “Language may be the distinct meanings, Specialization of most explosive issue universally and over function, Phonetic and orthographic time. This is mainly because language representation, and transferability from one alone, unlike all other concerns associated medium to another. Linguistic ability is 1 Narrative: A critical linguistic introduction: 3 Fighting Words: Language Policy and Ethnic Michael J. Toolan Routledge, 1988 Relations in Asia Edited by Michael E. Brown and 2 Semantics: A course book J. R Hurford and Sumit Ganguly Brendon Heasley, Cambridge University Press, 1983 ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2349-2317 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJMRM/issn. 2349-2317/2015; Volume 3 Issue 1 (2016) also associated with Competence or ability species have only possessed relatively to communicate in a structured and logical more primitive forms of communication. fashion, and Performance or the act of Anthropologists once thought that other communicating efficiently. species such as Neanderthal man did not possess the attributes of speech, but recent An overview of research in linguistics research and evidence seems to contest this The philosophy of language or the ability view, and speech capabilities must have of language to express the breadth of evolved only gradually in primates and human experience, has been debated since humans. Research on language, ancient times, particularly since the times evolutionary biology and human instinct (a of the Greeks in the first millennium before field of study wholly outside the purview the Christian era. Other branches of of this paper) is also rapidly evolving and linguistics such as semantics or the linguists such as Steven Pinker have made relationship between language and many contributions to this field in recent meaning were also formalized since the times. Fields of study such as language times of the Greeks. Languages are also dynamics are nascent, and we believe that typically classified into language groups, this is an area of study with a vast untapped (an idea first proposed by August potential.4 5 6 7.