The Evolution of Human Language: From Adaptive Brains to Written Communication

Honestly, no one knows for certain how human language evolved over time, and it is probable that no one would ever know with any level of certainty. However, we can work towards some likely aspects which might or might not be entirely accurate. The journey of human language from its earliest origins to the complex and diverse forms it has taken today can be summarized into a few key points.

First: Adaptive Brains and the Foundations of Communication

Language emerged from an adaptive brain. Before there were primates, there were other animals with brains that allowed them to functionally survive their environments and the various threats present within those environments. Adaptability is central to language, both as a requirement and as a key feature. Many animals had brains that could construct associations between observations and actions, and use such associations as a means of communication, which serves as a precursor to language.

Second: Predicting Actions Through Expressions

Communication became more sophisticated as animals developed the ability to predict the actions of others through various indicators and expressions. Sometimes these indicators were purely a function of anatomy and physics, but other times animals learned to project their intentions and behaviors through exaggerated expressions. This allowed them to avoid conflicts and communicate their intentions more effectively, often with minimal physical contact.

Third: Manipulating "Projected" Expressions for Communication

Animals began to communicate with one another through the manipulation of "projected" expressions. For example, instead of physically clawing and biting another animal, they could use threatening expressions to communicate their intention without causing harm. This ability to project intentions made communication more efficient and less arbitrary.

Fourth: Tying Acts and Expressions to Meaning

Language evolved further as acts and expressions became tied together into associative meanings. This allowed for the development of indirect associations and the communication of "abstract" meanings, which are concepts that have not been personally experienced by an individual. This ties into the progression from basic communication to more complex forms of expression.

Fifth: Early Tool Use and the Coevolution of Language

As animals progressed and learned to use and construct tools, language likely began to coevolve. Animals discovered which objects and features allowed them to accomplish tasks more effectively. For example, a chimpanzee might use a twig to dig out termites, but learn that certain branches work better. Language is also a tool, and the ability to describe, teach, and share information about tools and tasks facilitated more advanced forms of communication.

Sixth: The Emergence of Vocal Communication

Some animals communicate through "songs" and other vocal projections. From a behavioral perspective, both gestures and vocalizations evolved through the same brain mechanisms, as mentioned in the first three points. Sound became a tool for animals to communicate, whether it was through showing strength, warning of danger, or even imitating cries to signal threats. Birds are one example of animals that have developed this ability to a rather high degree of specificity.

For early primates, as with modern primates, "proto-languages" were gestural rather than oral. However, humans, evolved from a branch of primates, modified this ability and extended it to include vocal language. This allowed early humans to teach one another at a distance and free their hands for other tasks or to reinforce the points they were teaching, including teaching tool use.

Seventh: The Emergence of Writing

The emergence of writing is a crucial step in the evolution of human communication. Early in human prehistory, hominids learned to recognize "objects" in representations, such as seeing the form of an elephant in the clouds. Firelight on cave walls, with their natural shadows, might have inspired cave paintings, which could stimulate a conception of the animal being depicted. These visual forms of communication eventually led to the development of writing, a process that has already been well-documented.

In conclusion, the evolution of human language is a complex and fascinating journey that involves the development of adaptive brains, the use of gestures and vocalizations, and the eventual emergence of writing. Understanding these key points can help us appreciate the complexity and diversity of human communication.