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The Origins of Human Language: A New Perspective
When did human language first emerge? A recent study posits that humans have been capable of verbal communication for at least 135,000 years.
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) took a novel approach to investigate this longstanding question. Instead of relying solely on fossils and artifacts, they analyzed the movements of ancient human populations through 15 genetic studies conducted over the last 18 years. This body of research includes three studies focusing on the Y chromosome (to trace paternal lineage), three analyzing mitochondrial DNA (to trace maternal lineage), and nine comprehensive genome analyses. Collectively, these studies suggest that early Homo sapiens began diverging around 135,000 years ago.
The researchers theorize that all languages likely evolved from a single, original language. This perspective implies that early human communities possessed the ability to communicate verbally before their migration across the globe.
“All languages are related,” stated Shigeru Miyagawa, the lead author of the study. “The first major split among humans occurred around 135,000 years ago, so we can infer that language must have existed by then — or even earlier.”
The Interconnectedness of Languages
Earlier research in 2017 hinted at a similar conclusion but was based on a smaller set of studies. “Now, we have a greater quantity of studies, and we are working within a much narrower time frame,” Miyagawa noted. As a linguistic expert, Miyagawa is convinced that all languages share fundamental connections. His previous research has investigated the similarities among English, Japanese, and various Bantu languages.
Some scholars argue that linguistic capabilities can be traced back millions of years based on the vocal abilities of other primates. While it’s true that primates can produce sounds and communicate, this form of communication is vastly different from human language. For Miyagawa, the pivotal inquiry lies not in when primates began producing sounds, but when ancient humans developed the cognitive skills necessary for language formation.
“Human language is distinct because it incorporates two crucial elements — words and syntax — that work in unison to create a highly complex system,” he explained. “No other species has an equivalent structure in their communication methods, which enables us to formulate sophisticated ideas and articulate them to others.”
A related question concerns when humans began to use language socially and in everyday interactions. Archaeological findings indicate that widespread symbolic behavior began to appear roughly 100,000 years ago, as evidenced by artifacts like engravings on stone surfaces, which demonstrate abstract thinking and the capacity to convey information.
“Language acted as a catalyst for modern human behavior,” Miyagawa asserts. “Somehow, it facilitated human thought processes… If we are correct, people were sharing knowledge and encouraging innovations akin to those observed around 100,000 years ago.”
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explorersweb.com