GRUNTS OR COMPLEX SPEECH?

 What was mankind's original language like? The Bible reports that the first man, Adam, was able to coin 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 communicate fully and to express themselves creatively. 

The confusion of languages a Babel hindered mankind's ability to combine their intellectual and physical powers. Yet, their languages, 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, no 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, what a complexity comparable to those of the so-called 'civilized' nations." Similarly, in his book, The Language Instinct, Harvard College Professor Steven Pinker states: "There is no such thing as Stone Age language." 

Next time: THE FUTURE OF LANGUAGE

From the jw.org publications