A theory developed by
William S. Burroughs (among others), that the
word began as a biological
virus that altered the throat structure of
prehistoric protohumans. Those that survived passed the virus on to their
descendents. An
infected individual could form complex
vocal sounds which, virus-like, would
propagate through the tribe. New words spread until they are in common use. Thus the originally biological virus had mutated into the first information virus, the
primogenitor of the
computer virus.
Burroughs believed this unique virus was of
extraterrestrial origin.
Terence McKenna thinks that language will soon evolve into
visible language, sometime before
December 21, 2012.
See also: language is a virus.