| This article is part of a bigger MODULE on ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE (THEORIES). CLICK HERE to access the complete material. |
The origin of language, or how humans started “talking” to each other “using words,” has been a topic of research forever. Divine Source Theory is perhaps the most ancient theory of it all. As you might have already guessed from its name, Divine Source Theory takes us deeper into our religious and mythological roots.
What is the divine source theory of language origin? The Divine source theory of language origin suggests that language was created by divine being(s) and thus has a divine origin. According to this theory, language was not created by humans themselves or was a result of human evolution, but rather was a gift from a higher power.
Today, we will discuss our first theory from the module, “Theories of language origin.” We will look at our first theory – “Divine Source Theory of Language Origin,” in depth and explore its key features and the evidence used to support it. We will also examine some of the experiments that have been conducted to test this theory and evaluate their results. Let’s begin!
| CONTENTS OF THIS ARTICLE: – What is the Divine Source Theory of Language Origin? Features of Divine Source Theory of Language Origin Experiments conducted to prove the Divine Source Theory of Language Origin – The experiment conducted by King James IV of Scotland – The experiment conducted by Psamtik, a Pharaoh Conclusion |
What is the Divine Source Theory of Language Origin?
Many religions consider language to be a gift from God. Thus, it is natural that every religion will have a theory of its own.
For example, from the Bible context, God created Adam, and whatever name Adam called every creature became the name of that thing.
The question that arises after is, what about so many different languages in the world? An explanation is given for this. Humans became too proud, and with that extraneous pride, they started building the Tower of Babel to reach God. So, as a punishment for this act, God created separate languages. You can find this narrative in Genesis 11:11-9.
In the context of Hindu beliefs, language originated from Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wife of lord Brahma.
In many other cultures, language is seen as a divine gift that has been given to humans to help them communicate with each other and connect with the divine.
Features of Divine Source Theory of Language Origin
There are several key features of the Divine Source Theory of Language Origin.
- This theory suggests that language was not created by humans themselves but rather was given to them by a divine or supernatural force.
- This theory posits that language is a sacred and divine gift, rather than a product of human evolution, that has been given to humans to help them communicate with each other and connect with the divine.
- This theory suggests that language is a special and unique ability that sets humans apart from other animals.
Experiments conducted to prove the Divine Source Theory of Language Origin
It sounds impossible to conduct an experiment proving that language is a gift from God (of any religion). However, there are stories of two specific experiments that we cannot overlook.
The experiment conducted by King James IV of Scotland
It is said that in 1493, James IV, the monarch of Scotland, appointed a mute woman to raise two infants. This was supposed to happen on the island of Inchkeith so that these children would grow up without human language interaction. With this experiment, he wanted to determine if language is something humans learn or is in-built into humans by birth. His guess was that the language they will speak will be the same as that the god has gifted humans initially.
Some say the infants could speak good Hebrew, thus reporting that it was the divine language. However, this claim has been refuted by many historians.
The experiment conducted by Psamtik, a Pharaoh
Herodotus was a Greek historian and Geographer whose work The Histories give us an insight into the experiment conducted by Psamtik, a.k.a. Psammetichus, a pharaoh. When Herodotus visited Egypt, he heard the story of Psamtik conducting an experiment in an attempt to find out the origin of language.
As written by Herodotus, Psamtik selected two newborn infants to conduct the experiment. He gave these infants to a shepherd and instructed him to raise them in complete isolation so that no one, including the shepherd, should speak to them. The idea was that they would not learn any language if they never heard anyone speaking. The Pharaoh wanted to see if they would develop their own language. The shepherd was told to keep an ear open for their first words.
The experiment lasted for two years. The shepherd was instructed to bring the infants to the Pharaoh at the end of this period. When the shepherd arrived with the infants, he asked them to bring food, and the babies responded by crying, “βεκός” (bekós). The word “βεκός” (bekós) in Phrygian means “bread.”
The Pharaoh concluded that the language that humans originally spoke should be Phrygian. However, currently, there is no scientific way to prove the correctness of this anecdote.
Conclusion
The Divine Source Theory of language origin suggests that language was a gift from a divine or supernatural element. So, according to this theory, language is not a human invention or a product of human evolution but rather a divine creation that was bestowed upon humans by a higher power.
Although this theory has been criticized for its lack of empirical evidence and scientific basis, it has been influential in shaping our understanding of language and its origins. The theory has been particularly appealing to those who see language as a unique and sacred aspect of human experience.
However, it is important to note that the Divine Source Theory is just one of many theories attempting to explain language’s origins. Other theories, such as the Evolutionary Theory and the Social Interaction Theory, offer alternative explanations that are grounded in empirical evidence and scientific research.
Ultimately, the Divine Source Theory of language origin raises important questions about the nature of language and its relationship to spirituality and religion. While the theory may not be widely accepted in the scientific community, it remains a fascinating and thought-provoking concept that continues to inspire discussion and debate.
