Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing cover image

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

From grunts to grammar. The Irish 'after doing.' The winning NGD poem!

Mar 12, 2024
Explore the evolution of human language from ancient theories to modern complexities. Discover Irish-English calques and celebrate the winning NGD poem. Uncover language theories and sound symbolism, along with the impact of Irish on English and the origin of 'Brogue.' Dive into Leslie F. Miller's limerick about Hamlet and her background as a healthcare writer.
13:44

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Quick takeaways

  • Human language evolution theories include humorous Bow Wow and Pooh Pooh theories from the 19th century.
  • Darwin proposed language evolution through sound imitation, while Max Mueller suggested language as a distinct human feature.

Deep dives

The Origins of Human Language in the 19th Century

In the 19th century, scientific discussions on the origins of human language led to humorous theories like the Bow Wow and Pooh Pooh theories. Darwin proposed that human language evolved through imitating sounds from the environment, leading to brain development and linguistic abilities. Max Mueller criticized Darwin's ideas and presented his own view that language was a distinct feature separating humans from animals.

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