Living with Lingo

We are obsessed with language; it permeates every aspect of our lives, and we employ it effortlessly to fulfil our needs. Yet, we often overlook the profound impact it has had on our evolution, history, and behaviour. Today, there are over 7000 languages spoken by humans, serving as a means of survival and imparting something new to each succeeding generation. Language acts as a catalyst, an indelible imprint etched so deeply within our consciousness that we rarely contemplate the notion that our very thoughts would remain an enigma without it guiding us along. Comprehending our own thoughts would be impossible.

What is language (technically)?

Language is a collection of interrelated features; these correlate to form our internalised grammar. We use this grammar to indicate knowledge of syntax, phonology (pronunciation) and semantics (words). We humans have an amazing capacity to create hierarchical communication systems which demonstrate our cognitive ability. We learn language usually through a social context, even animals in their wild environment have a system of gesturing and signals. However, no matter how much we subject (or aggressively force in most cases) experimentation on chimpanzees or other animals to utilise our systems, language has evolved in only a uniquely human way. Although, side note: some say that the likes of orangutans have the capacity for language because they are so smart, but they purposely choose not to so they don't have to join us humans in working.

A quick history of language

A system of language emerged in ancient civilisations, hunter-gatherer communities used it to keep track of commodities such as food and land supplies. Earliest descriptions of language use date back to 770 to 750 BC. The creation of a recorded language tracks back to as early as 3000 BC in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), Ancient Egypt, and China (1500 BC). Most symbols date back to around 9000 years ago, drawings and carvings were determined useful when memory was established as unreliable, and communities grew. Pictograms of rituals, cultures and stories were reflected in society through an artistic and then permanent way. Tracking agriculture in expanding countries became symbolised, and now the paintings and drawings are known as ‘cuneiform’ by Archaeologists- I mostly think of the cave scenes in the movie Ice Age from when Manny learned about his family.

While the origins of language trace back to Mesopotamia, where humans developed symbolic systems, it was soon followed by the iconic hieroglyphics of Ancient Egypt. These ancient civilisations laid the foundations for language, which, in turn, propelled economies and fostered more efficient lifestyles. In the 15th century, Chinese monks devised a block printing method using ink, leading to the development of the printing press, which revolutionized written communication by saving time previously spent on handwriting. This innovation facilitated the wider dissemination of written works. Photography and telephones in the 18th century reshaped communication further, transforming gestures into pictograms, pictograms into symbolic lettering, and symbolic lettering into technology. Today, technology continues to shape our modes of communication. We have codes, developing idiosyncratic languages and ccolloquialisms; even (sigh) emojis.

Historically, access to literature was predominantly restricted to the upper classes (shocker). Writing and scribing became exclusive skills reserved for the elite, perpetuating social privilege. Remarkably, this did not change significantly across many cultures until the 19th century. However, progressive changes in private and public education eventually transformed writing into an essential skill for all in Westernised cultures. Over the past two decades, our language systems have undergone unprecedented transformations. In 2020, the internet emerged as the most influential entity, with typing surpassing handwriting and screen-based reading dominating our lives. Social media, in particular, has encapsulated the last decade, shaping the progressive utilisation of phonology and semantics every passing minute.

Language is just fascinating.

Communication systems are the most essential aspect of human nature, we use them to define our way of life, showcase our intrinsic abilities and reflect our emotions. Each day, language systems evolve and strengthen the human capacity to connect, understand and learn about the world.

Rant over.