How the mouth became symbolic

Before we name, we touch. We propose that the roots of language lie not in abstract, amodal symbols but in early bodily experience. Early haptic and oral interactions ground conceptual knowledge through active exploration. The mouth, acting as a cognitive organ, functions not only as a site of articulation but also as a locus of tactile perception and intersubjective exchange. We suggest that language may have evolved through the neural reuse of circuits originally dedicated to ingestion and action understanding. These circuits were progressively shaped by affordances, embodied simulation, and sound symbolism. From sensorimotor patterns to iconic vocal forms, we trace a pathway linking bodily experience to symbolic reference, through which language acquisition could arise.