* Sao people: The Sao people were an ancient civilization in the Sahel region of Africa, spanning parts of Chad, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. They were known for their sophisticated pottery, ironwork, and farming techniques.
* Language remnants: There are no surviving speakers of the Sao language. Our knowledge of it comes from remnants of inscriptions on pottery, rock art, and other archaeological findings. These remnants are not enough to reconstruct the language fully.
* Possible connections: Some linguists believe the Sao language may have been related to the Afro-Asiatic language family, which includes languages like Berber, Arabic, Hebrew, and Egyptian. Others suggest a connection to the Nilo-Saharan family, which includes languages like Nubian and Dinka. However, these connections are not firmly established.
In conclusion: We can't say for sure where the Sao language originated. It likely was spoken by the Sao people in the Sahel region, but its exact origins and relationships to other language families are still uncertain.