Who can tell me the Basic principles of Anthropological Lingustics?

Question

I would like to hear your opinion on how language evolved to modern day language. I do not want what the book says I want creative thoughts.

Answer 1

I once read something that said language began for the purpose of lying. While I don't think that was why it began, (it was more likely the need to communicate when you could not see the other person), deception has been a major part of the evolution of language.

This was a major tool of persuasiveness. People want to persuade others to follow them, do something for them, believe something they say, etc. Sometimes the truth doesn't work, so they make something up. Sometimes, they didn't have the words to say what they wanted, so they had to make some up. Other times, new discoveries or creations required a new word.

One of the reasons languages changed so much was that each generation wanted their own way of speaking, to distinguish them from their parents. Over the generations, some of the new ways of speaking stuck, and the language changed as a result.

So my answer to your question would be multi-fold.

1. Language began because of man's need to communicate without seeing each other.

2. People wanted to convince other people to see things their way.

3. People didn't have the right words to say what they wanted, so they made up new ones.

4. Each generation wanted to put their own stamp on the language, and some of the changes they made stuck.

Answer 2

Language is the means in which culture is transmitted.  Language evolved so that culture could be transmitted, and thus carried on from one generation to another. . . and from one culture to another (ie. cultural sharing of ideas).

Answer 3

the desire to express ideas accurately