The Big Picture:
* Speech evolved from gestures: It's generally accepted that language evolved from gestural communication, which likely came first.
* We lack direct evidence: We don't have any recordings or physical evidence of early human language.
* Tracing evolution is challenging: Studying the evolution of language relies on indirect evidence like:
* Studying modern languages and their relatedness.
* Observing language acquisition in children.
* Examining the anatomy of the vocal tract in ancient hominids.
Two Leading Theories:
1. The Gradual Evolution Hypothesis: This theory suggests language gradually evolved over a very long time, perhaps millions of years.
* Evidence: Early hominids had vocal tracts capable of simple sounds, and the complexity of language increased alongside the development of brain size and social complexity.
2. The "Big Bang" Hypothesis: This theory posits that a significant leap in cognitive abilities, possibly related to a genetic mutation, led to the sudden emergence of language.
* Evidence: The rapid increase in brain size in Homo sapiens could have led to a "cognitive explosion" that enabled language.
What we know for sure:
* Human language is unique: While other animals communicate, human language has a complexity and flexibility unmatched in the animal kingdom.
* Language is essential for human culture: It allows us to share knowledge, build relationships, and create complex societies.
Conclusion:
It's impossible to say definitively whether language or speech came first. It's likely they developed hand-in-hand, with each influencing the other. The debate about the origins of language is ongoing, and new discoveries are constantly being made.