ANTH 1101 - WRITING RESPONSE 5

Writing Response 5

Mohamed E. Hassen

Bachelors of Arts, Mount Royal University

ANTH 1101: Introduction to Primatology and Human Evolution

Dr. Katja Pettinen

November 27, 2025

Language Emergence

According to Everett, human language emerged from the hominid species Homo erectus.
Homo erectus originated from the continent of Africa and migrated throughout the
Middle East, Europe, and Asia bringing with them language. There has been
archaeological evidence found in sites located in Africa, Israel, Morocco, Indonesia and
the Philippines showing Homo erectus had a complex culture not only on their home
continent of Africa but all across the globe.

Everett says as previously claimed that language emerged 50 to 150k years ago has been
disproven and the first evidence of language has been discovered to date as early as 1.5
million years ago. He also argues that Homo sapiens were not the first to develop
language in the hominid faction but it was actually Homo erectus. Which would lead later
species of humans like Neanderthals and Homo sapiens to be already born in a linguistic
complex world. This is further proven by early symbolic behavior like creating symbols
to intentionally communicate and express feelings dating back hundreds and thousands of
years before modern humans existed.

According to Everett Language did not just come out suddenly one day but it was a slow
and gradual process. It is said to have started when humans shifted from using indexes
like their footprints or icons to express feelings to communicating through symbols. After
the development of symbols in groups they then developed an order for using them. We
can say this order meant assigning meaning to those symbols which lead to those groups
having a functional language. Language in the form of speech is not so important in the
development of language as even a limited number of sounds can create a fully functional
language if symbols exist. H. erectus are known to most likely have used full body
communication which involves a mix of sound gestures and use of facial expressions to
communicate.

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The need for language was crucial for tool building, planning, cooperation for survival,
memory, complex cultural and social structures. All of this led humans to excel in
problem-solving and survival compared to other species and ensured our survival.
 ANTH 1101 - WRITING RESPONSE 5
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Study of Linguistic in Anthropology

Like other aspects of anthropology which focus a lot on fossilized evidence, languages do
not leave fossils or any other physical remains to be studied. Finding evidence of
bipedalism in humans and other species is easy as we can see it on their bones but
language uses symbols (memory, grammar) and symbolic thinking which does not have
any physical traits to be left behind and preserved.

Cultural evolution is very fast and changes drastically over just a couple centuries which
makes it impossible for anthropologists to reconstruct what was spoken over the period of
millions of years. We cannot use modern language structure and rules on early languages
as they most likely do not have the same structure and rules as modern languages.

While we can look at carved shells and tools to suggest symbolism were in use but there
is no way for us to know the real meaning behind those symbols and when we do assign
meaning it is entirely opinion based and interpretation.

Another hurdle in the study of language in human evolution is that modern linguistic
theorists disagree with the emergence of language while some say it was sudden with a
mutation while some like Everett say it was a gradual emergence with symbols and
culture. These disagreements make it harder for anthropologists to interpret
archaeological evidence.

All of these challenges make the study of language in human evolution an interpretation
of anthropologists and how they infer evidence. Which is not always the most reliable in
scientific settings as it always leads to uncertainty.

Importance of Language in Human Emergence

Language enabled humans to work together in groups to coordinate hunting and traveling
making us species that worked in packs rather than alone survival. It made humans able
to pass down knowledge to new generations making complex toolmaking possible which
requires corrections and explanations.

It also helped human groups plan ahead of hunts and divide responsibilities to survive.
Language also helped humans to thrive in diverse environments by sharing strategies and
danger. Language formed our values and culture by enabling groups to create shared
meanings, identity and stories.

Language played a crucial role in the success of humans. It made us the apex predator on
this planet and it shaped our culture and identity. It started off as a means of survival of a
group but today it fuels our technology and knowledge. Without language humans would
have most likely still be simple apes like monkeys and chimpanzees.