How did Johann Gottfried von Herder explain the origin of language?

In his 1772 essay, Abhandlung über den Ursprung der Sprache ("Essay on the Origin of Language"), Johann Gottfried von Herder argued that the origin of language is rooted in human nature rather than divine intervention.1

Herder rejected the notion that language was a "higher" faculty added to an animal foundation. Instead, he posited that language and human rationality developed together. He emphasized the concept of Besonnenheit ("reflective discernment"), which allows humans to separate themselves from their environment and recognize objects specifically rather than just feeling them dimly.1

Key aspects of his explanation include:
* Language as the Medium of Thought: Herder argued that knowledge is only possible through language. It is not merely a tool to express pre-existing thoughts, but the very means by which thought itself is formed.12
* Unity of Human Nature: He stressed the indivisible wholeness of human nature, where feeling and reflection interpenetrate. A word, being both sound and significance, acts as the bridge that unites these faculties.1
* Structure of Language: Because every word includes an emotional attitude reflecting the user's outlook, Herder viewed the structure of language as a true image of human nature.1