The Origin of Language - The Alchemist

The Origins of Language
What makes language distinctly human

Open Ended

What is Language?

• A system of communication using words, gestures, or symbols

• Allows humans to express complex ideas and emotions

• Constantly evolving and changing over time

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​What is Language?

Multiple Choice

How many languages are spoken across the world currently?

• about 7000

• about 1000

• about 3000

• about 5000

• Exact origins are unknown, but estimated to be 50,000-200,000 years ago

• Likely developed alongside human cognitive evolution

• Early forms may have included gestures, sounds, and simple vocalizations

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​The Origins of Language

• Gradual development from simple sounds to complex grammar

• Introduction of syntax and structure

• Development of different parts of speech (nouns, verbs, etc.)

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What came first?

Reorder

Reorder the following steps of speech from first to last

• Gestures

• Simple Sounds

• Introduction of Syntax and Structure

• Development of Parts of Speech

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

• Oldest known writing systems date back to around 3200 BCE

• Created first to keep track of trades and government laws.

• Early systems included pictographs and ideograms

• Cuneiform in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphs in Egypt were among the first

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The Birth of Writing Systems

Match

Let's see if you can match the early writings with their locations

Phoenicians

Egypt

Sumerians

Olmec

Shang Dynasty

• Phoenicians

• Egypt

• Sumerians

• Olmec

• Shang Dynasty

Multiple Choice

Which ancient language is considered the foundation of the modern day alphabet?

• Greek
• Phoenician
• Sumerian
• Olmec

• Largest language family, including many European and South Asian languages

• Originated around 4500-2500 BCE

• Includes English, Spanish, Hindi, and many others

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Multiple Choice

English is a branch off of what central language type?

• Romantic

• Indic

• Germanic

Ancient Greek and Latin heavily influenced Western languages and thought

Sanskrit played a similar role in South Asia

​These languages became the basis for scientific and philosophical discourse

• Empires spread languages across vast territories

• Examples: Latin (Roman Empire), Arabic (Islamic Caliphates), English (British Empire)

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​According to Genesis from the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Babylonians wanted to make a name for themselves by building a mighty city and a tower “with its top in the heavens.” God disrupted the work by so confusing the language of the workers that they could no longer understand one another.

​BUT Was there ever just one language?

But whether there was ever one universal language around the world, the evidence is just not there.

There are multiple original languages from different parts of the world evolving independently.

What we know of ancient languages comes from what we can find written down, and written language did not appear until thousands of years after we began to speak.

​BUT Was there ever just one language?

Multiple Choice

Was there ever a "mother tongue" or universal language in our past?

• No, there is no evidence of a single 'mother tongue' or universal language in our past.
• All languages today evolved from a single ancient language.
• The first language was a form of sign language used universally.
• Yes, there was a universal language spoken by all early humans.

• Over 7,000 languages exist today, but many are endangered

• Efforts to preserve linguistic diversity

• Potential for new forms of language (e.g., programming languages, AI communication)

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FUture of languages

Open Ended

What do you think language will look like in 1000 years?

Multiple Choice

 In "The Alchemist," what does the phrase "the language of the world" primarily refer to?

• A universal spoken language

• The ability to understand and communicate with nature

• A secret code used by alchemists

• The language of ancient Egypt

Multiple Choice

Who first introduces the concept of "the language of the world" to Santiago?

• Melchizedek, the king of Salem

• The crystal merchant

• The Englishman

• The alchemist

Multiple Choice

What does the novel suggest is necessary to understand "the language of the world"?

• Mastering the art of alchemy

• Studying ancient texts and manuscripts

•  Formal education in multiple languages

• Having a pure heart and following one's Personal Legend