Psychogenesis of Language Part 1

How does language begin before we even speak? Alfred Tomatis unveils the psychogenesis of language, tracing its origins to the embryonic stage and the mother’s womb. In this new series, we explore how these early vibrations shape the human journey toward speech and consciousness. Join us as we uncover the roots of language, one primal connection at a time.

Language’s Embryonic Dawn

Alfred Tomatis introduces the psychogenesis of language as a process that begins deep within embryonic life, at the moment of conception. He describes a powerful force—an "inductive energy"—that guides the fetus toward its human destiny. This energy, Tomatis argues, is the Word itself, a dynamic, living force that seizes the human body, investing it entirely. Though the newborn does not speak at birth, they are an infans—a being destined to speak, animated by the latent language that will one day define their humanity.

This Word, or Verbe, is not merely a future act of speech but the very engine of human evolution. Tomatis sees it as a "verbalizing thought," a primal force that drives growth and adaptability, ultimately leading the individual to become one with the Word. This systematic progression, rooted in the "cellular night" of the embryo, positions language as the foundational vibration that supports the entire evolutionary process.

The Struggle for Verticality

For Tomatis, language is what propels humans toward their unique vertical posture, distinguishing us from other primates. This ascent is a daily battle, one that echoes the biblical struggle of Jacob, where man overcomes his visceral, animal nature to stand upright. Through this fight, language penetrates and molds the body, sculpting it neuronally to become a vessel for verbalized thought. The human, in Tomatis’ view, emerges when the body fully surrenders to language, becoming an "antenna" for the cosmic message of the Word.

Yet, this journey is fraught with challenges. The ego, fueled by misguided education and life experiences, can pull this energy away from consciousness, leading to imbalance. The stages of linguistic evolution, Tomatis suggests, are the very steps through which humans ascend, each phase marked by language’s growing influence over the body—from freeing the hands to enabling facial expressions, vocal gestures, and a heightened awareness of laterality.

The First Language: A Mother’s Love

The earliest form of language, according to Tomatis, emerges in utero through an empathetic connection between mother and fetus. This pre-language is a profound, wordless dialogue—a "flesh-to-flesh" communication that transcends conventional speech. Tomatis emphasizes that without this foundational bond of love, true language cannot develop. It’s a reciprocal flow of affection, a desire for connection that persists beyond birth, serving as the primary driver of linguistic evolution.

This fetal language prepares the infant for the babbling that erupts in the first months after birth. Tomatis sees this babbling as a direct extension of the intrauterine experience, a stepping stone to the stammering that follows—a more structured attempt at semantic communication directed toward the mother. This stage marks the child’s first bid for independence, a primitive call toward verticality, expressed through bilateral, bisyllabic sounds.

From Mother to Father: The Evolution of Speech

As the child progresses, their language evolves through socio-cultural influences, often embodied by the father. Tomatis describes this as the adoption of the "paternal language," a structured system that integrates the child into the broader human community. For some, this journey culminates in a higher stage where language becomes the pure expression of conscious thought, a "gloriously incarnated" reflection of the mind.

This psycho-linguistic evolution highlights language’s dual role: it is both a projection of the nervous system’s coded information and a sculptor of the body. As thought shapes speech, it simultaneously molds the human form, turning the body into an instrument of expression. Life, for Tomatis, becomes a continuous dialogue between the human and their humanity, mediated by language.

A New Chapter in Understanding

Tomatis’ exploration of language’s psychogenesis opens a window into the profound interplay between body, mind, and speech. For those eager to dive deeper, his book De la communication intra-utérine au langage humain offers a wealth of insight (available here).

Categories: : Alfred Tomatis, Books, Personal Contribution