Evolution of language: Difference between revisions
Created page with "These notes are initially drawn from "The Origins of Language" by James R Hurford == The Prehistory of a Very Special Ape == * 7m years ago - the line leading to humans split off from that leading to bonobos and chimpanzees * 4-2m years ago - Australopithecus is the first habitually bipedal ape. Bipedalism allowed us to separate the rhythm of breathing from that of walking and running and freed hands for meaningful gestures * 2.5-1.5m years ago - Homo Habilis (clever m..." |
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* 2.5-1.5m years ago - Homo Habilis (clever man), was the first to make stone tools. This indicates patience, postponement of gratification, a mind capable of foresight into future needs, and constructive planning, | * 2.5-1.5m years ago - Homo Habilis (clever man), was the first to make stone tools. This indicates patience, postponement of gratification, a mind capable of foresight into future needs, and constructive planning, | ||
* 1.5m years ago - Homo Erectus, a tall robust ape made more complex tools and may have had a "protolanguage", a meaningful learned vocabulary but no grammar - just words strung together. They made the first migration of hominins out of Africa. | * 1.5m years ago - Homo Erectus, a tall robust ape made more complex tools and may have had a "protolanguage", a meaningful learned vocabulary but no grammar - just words strung together. They made the first migration of hominins out of Africa. | ||
* 1m years ago - Home Erectus can use controlled fire, which allows cooking and reduction of teeth and gut size, which may have freed up resources for bigger brains. These are the first hunter-gatherers, living and working to hunt and forage cooperatively in small groups | * 1m years ago - Home Erectus can use controlled fire, which allows cooking and reduction of teeth and gut size, which may have freed up resources for bigger brains. These are the first hunter-gatherers, living and working to hunt and forage cooperatively in small groups. | ||
* 500,000 years ago - We diverge from Neanderthals | |||
* 300,000 years ago - Home Sapiens emerge | |||
* 170,000 years ago - Home Sapiens start wearing clothing - a significant moment in the emergence of culture, clothing carried information about the status of individuals | |||
* 140,000 years ago - Mitochondrial Eve (the most recent woman that all living humans share as an ancestor on their mother's side) and Y-chromosome Adam (the most recent male ancestor that all living men share on their entirely paternal line) are alive. | |||
* 100,000 years ago - Homo Sapiens comes out of Africa | |||
* 5,000 years ago - if any two individuals living today research their family tree, they will find at least one person in common in both trees who was alive at this time | |||
Revision as of 16:49, 16 May 2024
These notes are initially drawn from "The Origins of Language" by James R Hurford
The Prehistory of a Very Special Ape
- 7m years ago - the line leading to humans split off from that leading to bonobos and chimpanzees
- 4-2m years ago - Australopithecus is the first habitually bipedal ape. Bipedalism allowed us to separate the rhythm of breathing from that of walking and running and freed hands for meaningful gestures
- 2.5-1.5m years ago - Homo Habilis (clever man), was the first to make stone tools. This indicates patience, postponement of gratification, a mind capable of foresight into future needs, and constructive planning,
- 1.5m years ago - Homo Erectus, a tall robust ape made more complex tools and may have had a "protolanguage", a meaningful learned vocabulary but no grammar - just words strung together. They made the first migration of hominins out of Africa.
- 1m years ago - Home Erectus can use controlled fire, which allows cooking and reduction of teeth and gut size, which may have freed up resources for bigger brains. These are the first hunter-gatherers, living and working to hunt and forage cooperatively in small groups.
- 500,000 years ago - We diverge from Neanderthals
- 300,000 years ago - Home Sapiens emerge
- 170,000 years ago - Home Sapiens start wearing clothing - a significant moment in the emergence of culture, clothing carried information about the status of individuals
- 140,000 years ago - Mitochondrial Eve (the most recent woman that all living humans share as an ancestor on their mother's side) and Y-chromosome Adam (the most recent male ancestor that all living men share on their entirely paternal line) are alive.
- 100,000 years ago - Homo Sapiens comes out of Africa
- 5,000 years ago - if any two individuals living today research their family tree, they will find at least one person in common in both trees who was alive at this time