pre-existing cries

They too had an arbitrary meaning until there was meaning placed behind them. Using a certain cry or word around other people, while demonstrating or implying a meaning, helps things catch on.

As an example, if we raised a human away from other humans (or even use toddlers as an example), how would it discern what the noises meant? It would be purely jibberish until the meaning was directed or implied.

Words and cries didn’t pop out of nowhere, and didn’t have a universal meaning except in a tight collective where a standard definition was given to said sound. Imagine, as cringe-worthy as this is, a child in today’s times saying some bs like “I’m about to yeet this xyz” to their elder. They would (not always, but most likely) associate “yeet” with the existing word “eat” or a similar cognate, as that word already has an established meaning to them. “Yeet” is fucking nonsense until it’s defined by someone who agreed upon a standard definition.

I remember back in the glory days of middle school, hearing mutterings of pretty foul language that were acronyms (or whatever it’s called when the acronym is said rather than spelled out vocally), and I had no fucking idea what it meant. It was only when it was explained to me that I understood. And I guarantee either the boy who explained it either needed it explained to him, or he made it up. It was completely jibberish to me.