When Did Humans Start Talking? Genomic Evidence Pushes Language Back to 135,000 Years Ago скачать в хорошем качестве

When Did Humans Start Talking? Genomic Evidence Pushes Language Back to 135,000 Years Ago

Few traits define humanity as clearly as language. Yet, despite its central role in human evolution, determining when and how language first emerged remains a challenge. Fossils do not speak, and ancient DNA does not carry recordings of conversations. Traditionally, scholars have debated linguistic origins based on indirect clues—symbolic artifacts, brain size, or the complexity of tool-making. A new genomic study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, approaches the problem differently. By analyzing genetic divergences in early Homo sapiens populations, researchers argue that the biological capacity for language must have been present at least 135,000 years ago. If all modern human populations possess language and descend from a common ancestor, then linguistic ability must have existed before the first major human population split. "Every human society on Earth has language, and all human languages share core structural features. The question is not whether early Homo sapiens had language, but when," explains Shigeru Miyagawa, a linguist at MIT and co-author of the study. Genomic Clues: Tracing Language Through Population Splits Unlike previous studies that relied on archaeology or comparative anatomy, this research examines how human populations began to branch off from one another. Using genomic data from 15 different studies—including analyses of Y-chromosomes, mitochondrial DNA, and whole-genome comparisons—the team identified the earliest detectable split in Homo sapiens populations. This division, which eventually led to the Khoisan-speaking groups of southern Africa, occurred around 135,000 years ago. "If language had emerged after this split, we would expect to find some modern human populations without language or with a radically different form of communication," says Miyagawa. "But we don’t. Every population has fully developed linguistic abilities, suggesting that language was already in place before this first major division." What Came First: Language or Symbolic Thought? The genetic evidence suggests that Homo sapiens had the capacity for language long before the first clear signs of symbolic behavior appear in the archaeological record. For years, many researchers tied language origins to the emergence of art, ritual burials, and complex social behaviors, which become widespread around 100,000 years ago. "We see a lag between when the genetic evidence tells us language capacity was present and when symbolic artifacts appear in the record," notes Ian Tattersall, a paleoanthropologist at the American Museum of Natural History and co-author of the study. "This suggests that early Homo sapiens could speak long before they regularly expressed symbolic ideas in durable materials." This challenges the long-held view that language and symbolism arose in tandem. Instead, it suggests that the brain's ability to process language may have developed first as an internal cognitive tool, later spilling into outward communication and cultural expression. The Role of Language in Human Expansion One of the biggest questions in human evolution is how Homo sapiens successfully spread across the globe while other hominin species, like the Neanderthals and Denisovans, eventually disappeared. The researchers propose that language might have played a key role. "The ability to use complex language would have given early Homo sapiens a crucial advantage, enabling cooperation, teaching, and planning in ways that no other species could match," Miyagawa explains. This advantage may have allowed small groups of Homo sapiens to outcompete other hominins despite being similar in physical abilities. Language could have been the tool that enabled larger social networks, more sophisticated hunting strategies, and better survival in harsh environments. How This Fits with Other Evidence This genomic analysis aligns with findings from other fields: Fossil Evidence: The brain size and anatomy of early Homo sapiens suggest they had the neural capacity for language. While Neanderthals may have had some linguistic ability, Homo sapiens likely possessed more advanced syntax and vocal control. Archaeological Evidence: The earliest symbolic artifacts—engraved ochre, beads, and ritual burials—appear around 100,000 years ago, suggesting that spoken language preceded visible cultural expressions. Comparative Linguistics: Despite their diversity, all human languages share deep structural similarities, hinting at a common origin. Language as a Defining Human Trait This study does not pinpoint the exact moment when words were first spoken, but it sets a lower boundary for when language must have been present. The ability to use language—arguably the most powerful cognitive tool ever evolved—likely shaped every aspect of early human life, from cooperation to migration. "Language is not just a communication system; it is the foundation of human thought, culture, and innovation," Tattersall e...