* No Written Records: The earliest languages existed long before written records.
* Language Evolution: Languages constantly evolve and change over time. The languages we speak today are descended from earlier, now extinct languages.
* The "Proto-Language" Concept: Linguists can trace languages back to their common ancestors. However, these "proto-languages" are hypothetical reconstructions, not directly observed.
While we can't say for certain, the research suggests that the earliest languages likely emerged around 100,000 to 50,000 years ago in Africa, where *Homo sapiens* originated.
So, the answer is: We don't know for sure. The search for the "first language" is an interesting one, but it's ultimately a mystery.