I. Brainstorming

How did language arise?

II. The evolution of language

(1)religious beliefs

Language was God’s gift to mankind.

(2)Scientific interpretations

Language was human invention.

1) The Bow-wow theory (仿声说): imitation of natural sound

2) The Pooh-pooh theory (感叹说): instinctive emotional cries

3) The Yo-he-ho theory(吆喝说): joint labour or effort

4) The Evolution theory(进化说): product of evolutionary development of the human species. Language originated in the process of labour.