Re: Some questions on phonology

Falcata Lusa wrote:
> If we could go back in time and see (and hear) the first speaking hominids,
> what do you think their sounds could be like?
Quack, woof, howl, tweet, hiss, etc.

We can never know for sure, but if Freddy Kruger stepped out of a time
machine and told me I had to guess what the first human language sounded
like or he'd hack me to death, that's what I'd guess: onomatopoeia.

(In fact, the idea that the low position of the larynx is "proof" that
early humans had language is a pretty weak argument; humans could have
evolved this anatomy simply as a means to imitate animal sounds.  Note
that other animals, e.g. parrots, have evolved this ability also.  Given
that there's little evidence of cultural technological advances in early
humans, something that I find unfathomable in a society with
language--Dark Ages of Europe notwithstanding--I'd opine that true
language didn't occur until relatively late, in a subgroup of Homo
sapiens about 50-60 thousand years ago, which is when we start seeing
evidence of a technology culture.)



> Which points of articulation could they probably use for their pulmonic
> consonants? More labial or more laryngeal?
> Which manner of articulation? Would the fricative be the most common? Or the
> plosive? Or other?
> Would this consonants be more likely voiced or unvoiced?
> Would they have click consonants in their language?
What kind of animals lived in Europe back then that people might
imitate?  Those are probably the sounds they'd use.  Keep in mind the
climate in Europe at that time was much colder.

There were aurochs (ancestors of modern cattle), who moo: so there might
have been front nasals /m/ and /n/ (anyway nasals seem to exist in every
natural language so there's a good chance they are in the early ones).

Woolly mammoths, which we'll assume sounded like modern elephants: so
back nasals /ŋ/ and nasally back vowels.

Wolves owl: so round back vowels /u/ and bilabial glides /w/.
Wolf pups yip: that seems to allow bilabial stop /p/.

Rodents tend to make raspy chirping and sqealing sounds: this suggests
back velar and uvular articulations, perhaps including rasping and trilling.

Bears growl: so there could be rhotic sounds.

Snakes hiss: so unvoided sibilants.

Bees buzz: so voiced sibilants. (But I doubt there were bees in Europe
at that time.)

There might have been songbirds: so maybe there were some whistling
sounds.  (Whistling doesn't combine with other phonetic sounds very
well; it's hard to whistle and articulate at the same time, so any
imitative whistling noises never developed into phonemes--or at least
never survived long.  But an original language might have some whistle
words.)

Well, looking over that list, it looks (amazingly enough) a lot like the
consonant sounds we have today.

Animals don't seem to have such a variety of vowels in their calls, so
I'd guess if there are any distinct vowels, they should be staccato.
Also, sounds like interdentals don't seem to resemble too many animal
sounds, so maybe take that into consideration.

As for clicks: I'd be inclinded not to include them unless there were
woodpeckers around.



Carl Banks