language-origin theory

speculation about the origin and early development of language in the human species. The numerous early theories on this subject tend to fall into three main categories: (a) those that see language developing from conscious imitation by early humans of nonhuman animal noises and other natural sounds; (b) those that see it emerging from the involuntary sounds produced to express rage, pleasure, hunger, and so on; and (c) nativistic theories that see the language faculty as innate to human beings and postulate an inherent relation between sound and meaning (see phonetic symbolism). Modern research tends to ask whether language is, in fact, a uniquely human capacity and, if so, whether it evolved in response to various selective adaptations. See also species specificity of language.

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Psychology term of the day

February 16th 2025

sun compass

the use of the sun as a directional stimulus in orientation and navigation. Because the sun appears to move across the sky during the day and has different trajectories in different seasons, a sun compass must be coupled with some form of time estimation. To head south at 9 a.m., one needs to keep the sun on the left, but at 3 p.m., one needs to keep the sun on the right. Studies of several species, ranging from bees to fish and birds, have demonstrated a time-compensated sun compass. For nocturnal species, there is evidence of a star compass.