What do you think was the very first sound to become a word, a meaning?' ... And then I realized what the first word must have been: ma, the sound of a baby smacking its lips in search of her mother's breast. Ma, ma, ma. Then the mother decided that was her name and she began to speak, too. She taught the baby to be careful: sky, fire, tiger. A mother is always the beginning. She is how things begin.
The excerpt from Amy Tan's "The Bonesetter's Daughter" reflects on the origins of language and the profound connection between a mother and her child. The author suggests that the first word could have been "ma," a sound made by infants when they crave their mother. This primal communication represents not only a baby's need but also the foundation of language itself, stemming from a deep bond formed even before words are fully understood.
The passage highlights the pivotal role that mothers play in language development. As the baby learns to articulate sounds and meanings, the mother becomes the source of knowledge and reassurance, teaching essential concepts about the world around them. This dynamic signifies that mothers are central to the beginnings of life and communication, establishing a lifelong influence on their children as they grow and explore their surroundings.
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