a man seen in profile, speaking, with an illustration of the sound waves coming directly out of his mouth
a man seen in profile, speaking, with an illustration of the sound waves coming directly out of his mouth
How far back does our ability to speak stretch? A new analysis of genomic data suggests that the capacity for human language existed at least 135,000 years ago, a timeline that places its origins deep within the history of Homo sapiens. This finding, published in Frontiers in Psychology, offers a fresh perspective on a question that has long intrigued scientists: when did humans begin to communicate in the ways we recognize today?
The study, led by Shigeru Miyagawa, an MIT professor emeritus, examined 15 genetic studies published over the last 18 years. These studies, which included analyses of Y chromosome, mitochondrial DNA, and whole-genome data, collectively pointed to a critical juncture in human history: the initial regional branching of humans about 135,000 years ago. This branching, the researchers argue, indicates the presence of language capacity.
“The logic is very simple,” says Miyagawa. “Every population branching across the globe has human language, and all languages are related.” He adds, based on the genomic data, “I think we can say with a fair amount of certainty that the first split occurred about 135,000 years ago, so human language capacity must have been present by then, or before.”
The researchers reasoned that if all human languages share a common origin, then the timing of the geographic divergence of early human populations provides a clue to the emergence of language. By analyzing the genetic variations among different regional subpopulations, they were able to estimate when Homo sapiens was still a single, regionally undivided group.
This meta-analysis was made possible by the increasing availability of genomic studies. “Quantity-wise we have more studies, and quality-wise, it’s a narrower window [of time],” Miyagawa explains, highlighting the convergence of evidence from various research efforts. The studies showed that after Homo sapiens emerged roughly 230,000 years ago, groups of people began to move apart geographically, leading to genetic variations over time.
The authors also considered the archaeological record. Roughly 100,000 years ago, there was a widespread appearance of symbolic activity, such as meaningful markings on objects and the use of fire to produce ochre. “Behaviors compatible with language and the consistent exercise of symbolic thinking are detectable only in the archaeological record of H. sapiens,” the paper notes. This period of symbolic activity, they suggest, might have been triggered by the development of language.
Ian Tattersall, a co-author and curator emeritus of human origins at the American Museum of Natural History, has long held the view that language served as an “ignition for symbolic thinking and other organized activities.” Miyagawa elaborates, “Language was the trigger for modern human behavior. Somehow it stimulated human thinking and helped create these kinds of behaviors. If we are right, people were learning from each other [due to language] and encouraging innovations of the types we saw 100,000 years ago.”
However, the researchers acknowledge that not all scholars agree with this interpretation. Some propose a more gradual development of new activities around 100,000 years ago, with language playing a role but not necessarily being the central force. “Our approach is very empirically based, grounded in the latest genetic understanding of early homo sapiens,” Miyagawa says. “I think we are on a good research arc, and I hope this will encourage people to look more at human language and evolution.”
The research also delves into the distinction between language as a cognitive system and a communication system. “Language is both a cognitive system and a communication system,” Miyagawa states. “My guess is prior to 135,000 years ago, it did start out as a private cognitive system, but relatively quickly that turned into a communications system.”
The paper “Linguistic capacity was present in the Homo sapiens population 135 thousand years ago” provides a new perspective on the age old question of the origins of human language. By grounding their claims in genomic data, the researchers have offered a timeline that connects the development of language to the broader evolution of Homo sapiens. While the exact moment when language emerged may remain a mystery, this study brings us one step closer to understanding this fundamental aspect of our humanity.
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