Language genesis and language change

This thesis was written under the supervision of Dr Hajnal Ivo at the Leopold-Franzens University in Innsbruck. The core question of the work is whether the emergence of human language is subject to the same circumstances and influences as language change. The first part of the paper briefly examines the origin of the human species and its unique ability to communicate. The second part examines the most important grammar theories and language change phenomena. Finally the two sections are brought together in terms of content and the core question is addressed.