Evolution Of Human Language Essay

1880 Words8 Pages

In 1859, Charles Robert Darwin wrote that natural selection is an answer to adaptation and speciation. Natural selection was defined as 'slight variation in trait, if useful, is preserved'. This idea applies well to the ability of humans to speak. Through the course of evolution, many physiological and anatomical changes have resulted in human language that exists today. The ability to speak allows to share information easily. This fast and easy transmission of knowledge has helped humans to travel to moon and back. Language and speech have helped us evolve to social animals.
A long time debate on evolution of human language has lead to a variety of research projects and thesis. There are multiple hypothesis on when the evolution of human …show more content…

The brain was out of symmetry. Moving on to 1.6 million years ago to hundred thousand years ago, the vertebral canal increased in length, helping gain better control over breathing cycle. It was around four to three hundred thousand years ago that laryngeal and high pharynx are discovered. It was around hundred to three hundred thousand years ago that canal was developed as long as modern-day human. Then finally around fifty thousand years ago, humans finally developed all the necessary organs and modifications to be able to speak. Humans finnaly started to form groups and develop a common language. Since humans lived in a community, shared common language, a lot of advances took place. The humans wore jewellery, did art work in caves etc. These charcteristics shows that our ancestors who lived around fifity thousand years ago almost had the sam echaracteristics fo the modern day human.
The fact is inevitable that human language evolved over a long period of time. Evolution of larynx, tongue, lips; give modern day human the ability to freely share ideas through speech and language (Primate vocalization and human linguistic ability- Philip Lieberman). In addition to the evolution of three organs stated above; enhanced breathing control, gene selection for cognitive abilities through natural selection, and language play a huge role in modern day human

Open Document