Chapter Review - The Origins of Language

When did written language first appear in human history?

• About 100,000 years ago

• About 10,000 years ago

• About 5,000 years ago

• At the same time as spoken language

At what stage does the human auditory system begin functioning?

• At birth

• Around seven months after birth

• Around seven months before birth

• During early childhood

What did Darwin think early human communication was first based on?

What two things did early humans need to take control of in order to produce intonation?

According to Hurford (2014), what percentage of breathing during speech is used for quick in-breaths?

• 50%

• 25%

• 10%

• 90%

Select the correct name for each labeled organ.

• A. Larynx/ B. Pharynx

• A. Pharynx/ B. Larynx

What is the basic idea behind the “bow-wow” theory of language origin?

Where is the pharynx, and how did it become an important part of human sound production?

For those scholars who view gesture as the source of human vocalization, what term is used to describe speaking?

• Articulatory gestures

• Manual signs

• Verbal mimicry

• Vocal resonance

Why do you think that young deaf children who become fluent in sign language would be cited in support of the innateness hypothesis?