Abstract

The Gestural Theory of Language Origin takes on more validity when two points are considered: (1) the relation of sounds or sound patterns to meanings, things, actions, and relationships is by no means natural and given but rests on arbitrary convention; and (2) the existence of gesturally represented patterns with the structure of simple sentences would have naturally let vocalizations habitually performed at the same time as these patterns become associated with the meanings of the gestural representations as well.

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