Dr David McGrath

Spine Physician

MB BS (Hons) FAFOM, RACP, FAFMM
Master of Pain Medicine

From earlier articles
1. Emotions aid survival
2. Emotions determine operational success in specific environments
3. Environments determine the expression of specific emotions
4. Emotions are auto-regulated by disturbances
5. Reflective Emotion

What is the emotion supporting the "to and fro" of language ?
Language is our most distinctive human trait.
Why and How did it develop ? (Refer to Why Language Series)
When observing people in a conversation, we can notice that a series of alternating disturbances occur. But what is the fundamental advantage ? Why haven't other species developed language?
The proposition put foward by H Maturana and F.Varela in their landmark book, is the idea, that social cooperation, is the fundamental emotion behind the development of language.
We became more successful by sharing and caring. In the give and take of that disturbance pattern, our gestures and vocalisations coordinate our actions, before a final equilibrium or change in emotion, marking the end of the conversation. Often, this would give rise to useful actions to either one or both people. (the payoff)
The emotion supporting language might be called "consensual". (sympathetic actions) We are ready to receive one disturbance after another, as a result of our social bonding.
So in essence, the point of language as a to and fro alternating disturbance pattern, is to satisfy our mutual needs. This emotion like others is subject to change. In this case, from disturbances imbedded in the conversation or other interfering disturbances.