Because I Can't Use 'Word' in the Other Prompt

[<] [>]  by R. Eric Smith[+]

24 July 2012

Go to: Share | Feedback | Alts | Flash | Links

Drabble Challenge #59

Prompt: prompt

When did grunts, squawks and other mouth noises become words?

Our protean ancestors possibly understood that mouth noises which sounded like shrieks and screams meant danger. Presumably, they began to discern what kind of danger lay ahead by the pitch and intonation of the scream.

But surely they learned sex and fear simultaneously in their evolution, so moans and screams sounded alike. Thus they had to invent context. If there were moans before screams, things were OK. If there were no moans before screams, things weren't OK. In that case, screams could have meant "wrong hole" before they meant "danger."

Share

Feedback

Links


Return to sharedwords.net


All works copyright © their respective authors
Web site copyright ©2007-2021 Shared Words

Shared Words on Facebook

Site Design and Programming by Serious Cybernetics, with JavaScript libraries by MarcaSoft and Stuart Langridge • Hosted by DreamHost