The exact origins of human language are unknown, but it likely developed gradually over time. Anatomical changes, such as a more L-shaped vocal tract, may have broadened the range of possible sounds. Neanderthals had a hypoglossal canal similar in size to modern humans and likely had some rudimentary form of language. Modern humans evolved in Africa 200,000 years ago and all modern language likely originated from a single source, possibly dating back to the common ancestor of all living humans. The global language may date from a major population bottleneck around 70,000 years ago.
Since languages leave no fossils, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact time human speech was born. Some scientists dubiously attempt to guess the sophistication of primate communication based on the sophistication of the tool industry at the time. We may never know for sure when language originated, until we are able to use the preserved DNA of ancient homonids to recreate them and observe their linguistic abilities.
Rather than evolving abruptly, language as we know it is likely to have developed over a long period of time. Some scholars believe that the advent of bipedalism 3.5 million years ago brought about anatomical changes, such as a more L-shaped vocal tract, which would have broadened the range of possible sounds. Whether primates at the time actually used this anatomy to produce more sophisticated sounds is unknown. These “missing links” are now all extinct.
Research on homonid skulls has found that around 400,000 years ago, Neanderthals had a hypoglossal canal similar in size to modern humans. The hypoglossal canal is a bony canal that routes nerve fibers associated with speech production, although some studies have found an inconclusive link between the size of this canal and speech abilities. Neanderthals possessed a significantly more sophisticated tool industry than earlier homonyms and had large brains. Many scholars suspect that Neanderthals had some rudimentary form of language and tentatively believe that modern language originated about 400,000 years ago.
While the precise time the language originated remains unknown, it was certainly in use 200,000 years ago when modern humans evolved in Africa. These humans were anatomically modern, but behaved similarly to some of the simpler homonids that came before them up to about 100,000 years ago. About 50,000 years ago, a small group of humans left Africa. Some scholars argue that this departure means that humans have reached a certain threshold level in their ability to communicate, which has enabled them to leave, although this hypothesis is quite dubious.
Most scientists believe that all modern language originated from a single source, rather than having developed independently on all continents. If so, it must come from a source that goes back at least to the common ancestor of all living humans. All modern humans are ancestors of “Mitochondrial Eve,” a female who lived in Africa about 150,000 years ago. The modern language may date from this era or it may be more recent. About 70,000 years ago, the human species experienced a major population bottleneck when the total number of individuals may have been as low as 2,000. The global language may also date from this period.
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