Abstract
One of the most intriguing questions of mankind is the question of how human language evolved. Human language is the primary feature that distinguishes humans from animals. How Homo sapiens acquired language is an open, highly disputed question. So far, science hasn't delivered a satisfactory solution. The most important reason for this failure lies in the fact that no physical evidence for the development of the brain – which plays the central role in the rise of humans – is available. The previous assumption that genetic mutations of the brain were responsible for the evolution of language is not convincing because this would have required two simultaneous genetic mutation of Homo sapiens: a genetic mutation of the brain, and subsequently a mutation of the speaking-apparatus. This seems extremely improbable. We will show here that only the genetic mutation of the speaking-apparatus was necessary. Then two factors came together: in addition to a highly developed brain (which all hominids had and have) an adequate speaking-apparatus was the main factor for the development of language. Upright walking also helped as it enabled them to point with their hands. Some phenotypical mutations also occurred when Homo sapiens started to develop language. One was higher myelinization which improved the signal speed in the human brain compared to other animals. The second one was the development of special areas in the cortex that supported language, understanding and thinking: Wernicke's area and Broca's area. We will also show the connection between human language and human thinking, which is based on the second level of abstraction. This connection proves that the Neanderthals didn't have a sophisticated language. Such a language only developed in Homo sapiens.
Highlights
One of the most intriguing questions of mankind is the When we want to understand the development of the human language we first have to understand the development of animals’ signal languages
If threatened by a raptor, an appropriate signal motivates them to hide under the leaves in the tree. This example shows that the behavior of vervet monkeys is intelligent, but it outlines two features which are characteristic for all signal languages
We humans have a huge amount of knowledge, expressed in human language, but we don’t know why and how we developed the language
Summary
Human language we first have to understand the development of animals’ signal languages. If threatened by a raptor, an appropriate signal motivates them to hide under the leaves in the tree This example shows that the behavior of vervet monkeys is intelligent, but it outlines two features which are characteristic for all signal languages. Once a monkey has sighted a leopard he must create an appropriate signal He needs a neural connection from the visual neural pattern for leopard to another neural connection, another neural pattern, that sends a signal to the speaking-apparatus which produces the characteristic sounds. There these auditory neural patterns will be connected with the visual neural pattern of the leopard and will subsequently connect to more neural patterns in the motor cortex which motivate the monkeys to move to protection in the tree From these explanations it should be clear that the signal-language has to be learned and is not an innate feature. This knowledge had to be passed on from one generation to the other and spread out through the entire species
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