* The "beginning" is a matter of perspective: We could be talking about the beginning of human civilization, the evolution of language itself, or the origin of the universe.
* Linguistic evolution is complex: Languages constantly evolve, split, and change over time. Trying to trace a single language back to the origin of humanity is incredibly difficult and speculative.
* No written record: Early humans didn't leave written records of their language, so we have no direct evidence.
However, we can make some educated guesses based on research:
* Proto-languages: Linguists have reconstructed hypothetical "proto-languages" – ancestors of modern language families. These include Proto-Indo-European, Proto-Sino-Tibetan, and others. While these are not the "first language," they represent attempts to understand the deep history of language.
* The "Tower of Babel" story: This biblical tale suggests the existence of a single original language, but this is a religious myth, not a scientific theory.
In summary, we can't know for sure what the first language was. The question is more about understanding the fascinating history of language evolution than finding a single definitive answer.