* Early hominids: The earliest hominids likely communicated with a combination of gestures, facial expressions, and possibly some vocalizations. This form of communication would have been primarily nonverbal.
* Evolution of language: We know that language has evolved over millions of years, becoming increasingly complex. It is likely that early human speech started with simple sounds and gestures that gradually developed into more complex systems.
* Modern language development: Studies of babies show that they develop language skills in a predictable order. This suggests that the earliest forms of human language may have followed a similar trajectory, starting with basic sounds and gradually building complexity.
Some Theories:
* Proto-languages: Some linguists believe that there might have been a "proto-language," a hypothetical ancestor of all modern languages, which may have been simpler than modern languages but still had some form of grammar and syntax.
* Vocalizations: Early hominids likely used vocalizations similar to those used by modern primates, such as grunts, screams, and calls. These sounds might have been used to express emotions, signal danger, or coordinate activities.
* Gestures: Gestures likely played a significant role in early communication. These could have included pointing, facial expressions, and body language.
The Bottom Line:
While we can't know for sure what the "most primitive form of human speech" was, we can speculate that it likely involved a combination of nonverbal communication (gestures, facial expressions) and simple vocalizations that gradually evolved into more complex language systems.