What is the basic idea behind the 'bow wow' theory of language orgin?

The basic idea behind the 'bow wow' theory of language origin is that language originated from imitating natural sounds and noises made by animals and the environment. In this theory, early humans supposedly began to communicate by mimicking the sounds of animals and objects around them, eventually developing more complex vocalizations and forming the basis of human language. The theory suggests that language evolved from simple, instinctual vocalizations to more structured and meaningful communication over time.