The social interaction source: yo-he-ho• Language arose out of the rhythmical grunts of people working together, involved in physical effort that has to be coordinated (yo-he-ho theory)• Early humans may have developed a set of grunts, groans and curses used when lifting and carrying trees/mammoths• Makes sense as early humans must have lived in groups, which require some form of organisation and hence communication to maintain => development of language placed in a social context• Criticism?
26. 3. The social interaction source• Criticism: apes and other primates also live in groups and use grunts etc without having developed the capacity for speech!!