Did Our Languages Come From the "Tower of Babel"? - GRUNTS OR COMPLEX SPEECH?

 What was mankind's original language like?  The Bible reports that the first man Adam, was able to coin new words when he named all the animals and flying creatures.  (Genesis 2:20)  Adam also composed poetry to express his feelings for his wife, and she clearly described what God had commanded and the consequences of disobeying Him.  (Genesis 2:23; 3:1-3)  The first language, then enabled humans to communicated fully and to express themselves creatively. 

This confusion of languages at Babel hindered mankind's ability  to combine their intellectual and physical powers.  Yet, their new languag, like the first language, were complex. Within a few centuries, men built bustling cities, assembled powerful armies, and engaged in international trade.  (Genesis 13:12; 14:1-11; 37:25)  Could they have made such progress  without the use of an extensive vocabulary and grammar?  According to the Bible, the original human tongue  and the tongues introduced at Babel were, not primitive grunts and growls, but complex languages.

Modern research supports this conclusion.  The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language states:  "Every culture which has been investigated, no matter how 'primitive' it may be in cultural terms, turns out to have  a fully developed language, with a complexity comparable to those of the So-called 'civilized nations.'  Similarly, this boook The Language  Instinct, Harvar College Professor Steven Pinker states:  "There  is no such thing as a Stone Age language.

Next time: Did Our Language Come From the "Tower of Babel"? - THE FUTURE OF LANGUAGE

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