The question of when humans began to speak is a puzzle that continues to pique scientists' curiosity. There theory of laryngeal descent, once a mainstay in understanding the evolution of language, traces its roots approximately 50.000 years ago.
The theory of laryngeal descent in a few simple words
Long ago, in the throats of our ancestors, there was a small but important transformation. Which? Their “voice box,” or larynx, has sagged a bit in their throat. This change allowed them to make many different sounds, the sounds we use to speak. The theory of laryngeal descent says that thanks to this change, humans began to speak.
Secondo Jeffrey Lieberman, among the standard bearers of the theory (you can find the paper here), this anatomical feature distinguishes us from other primates and from our ancestors, such as Neanderthals. All this would have happened about 50.000 years ago and would then have also favored the emergence of symbolic intelligence (another clue that strengthens the connection between the interpretation of language and general artificial intelligence, but that's another story).
New hypotheses, new questions about the origin of language
Recent research, such as that conducted by Louis-Jean Boë from the University of Grenoble, are questioning this hypothesis. Boë and his team suggest that the ability to form vocal sounds essential for language may be much older. To be precise, it could extend back as far as 20 million years.
A radical theory, which not only challenges our current knowledge but also opens a new chapter in the understanding of human evolution, bringing with it an infinite number of possibilities and new questions.
A new perspective on the history of language
As mentioned, the work of Boë and colleagues (you can find his paper here) opens a new window on our understanding of language. Contrary to the laryngeal descent theory, Boë states that the ability to produce basic vowel sounds, such as the vowels “a,” “i,” and “u,” does not depend on the position of the larynx. This suggests that the ability to speak may be much older than previously assumed, perhaps dating back to a period when the ancestors of modern humans still shared many characteristics with other primates.
If Boë's theory is confirmed, humans have had the ability to communicate verbally for a much longer period than previously thought. This could have profound implications for our understanding of humanity's social, cultural and technological evolution. Verbal communication is a key element in the transmission of knowledge and traditions, and its more ancient origin could mean that the roots of human culture are much deeper than previously believed.
The research continues
Obviously, the debate in the scientific community is far from over. Some experts remain skeptical about the possibility of such an ancient origin of the language, stressing the need for further research and evidence.
And the difficulty of studying something as ancient and intangible as language makes this field of research particularly complex (if fascinating).
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