* No written records: Languages developed long before writing systems existed.
* Evolution of language: Language is constantly evolving, with new words and pronunciations arising over time. The languages we speak today are vastly different from their ancient ancestors.
* Lack of fossil evidence: While we have fossils of early humans, we don't have fossils of their language.
However, we can make some educated guesses:
* Early humans probably communicated through a combination of gestures, sounds, and simple vocalizations. This is similar to how some animal species communicate.
* Over time, these vocalizations became more complex and developed into proto-languages. These languages were likely very simple, with limited vocabulary and grammar.
* The development of language was likely a gradual process, with different groups of humans developing their own languages.
While we may never know definitively what the first spoken language was, studying the origins of language is a fascinating field of research. It helps us understand how humans developed the ability to communicate and how language has shaped our culture and society.