Since when have humans communicated with an intelligible language? i.e actual words and sentences?

Question

As in, not just grunts, shouts, and jabbing each other with pointy rocks.

Answer 1

Difficult to say. Somewhere between about forty thousand years ago (Cro-Magnon man) to about two million years ago (Homo habilis).

We're not even sure if language started with sound or with gestures (Gestural theory). Furthermore whe have to distinguish between speech and language. Speech is one of many methods of conveying language. Language is the ability to use abstract symbols to represent objects/concepts etc.

There are Anthropological hypotheses, Linguistic hypotheses, a Gestural theory, a Monogenesis theory, a theory of Spontaneous emergence of grammar, and of course a lot of Religious and Mythical origins.

"There is disagreement among anthropologists on when language was first used by humans (or their ancestors). Estimates range from about two million (2,000,000) years ago, during the time of Homo habilis, to as recently as forty thousand (40,000) years ago, during the time of Cro-Magnon man."

"Language : Origins of human language" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language#Origins_of_human_language

"The origin of language (glottogony, glossogeny) is a topic that has been written about for centuries, but the ephemeral nature of speech means that there is almost no data on which to base conclusions on the subject. We know that, at least once during human evolution, a system of verbal communication emerged from proto-linguistic or non-linguistic means of communication, but beyond that little can be said."

"Homo sapiens clearly have an inherent capability for language . Whether other extinct hominid species, such as Neanderthals, possessed such a capacity is not known. The use of language is one of the most conspicuous and diagnostic traits that distinguish H. sapiens from many other animals."

"Biologists do not yet agree on when or how language use first emerged among humans or their ancestors. Estimates of the time frame of its origin range from forty thousand years ago, during the time of Cro-Magnon man, to about two million years ago, during the time of Homo habilis."

"Some authorities believe that language arose suddenly, about 40,000 years ago. This is the time period from which we first see cultural artifacts, such as cave paintings and carved figurines. The relatively sudden appearance of these artifacts lead some to speculate that the cultural leap may have been prompted by the development of language which in turn allowed greater creativity to flourish."

"Studies of the skulls of Neanderthals (approximately 60,000 years ago) initially seemed to indicate that they would not have been capable of the full range of vowels used by modern humans. However, as pointed out by linguist Steven Pinker, a full range of vowels is not necessary for rudimentary speech. In fact, it is not even necessary for complex and abstract speech; see Northwest Caucasian languages. Even relatively complicated speech would be possible so long as a sufficient number of distinguishable consonants were in use. More recent studies of Neanderthal fossil evidence seem to point in the other direction and it now appears that the Neanderthals had the physical traits needed to produce all or nearly all of the same sounds that modern humans can."

"Fossil evidence indicates that the main areas of the brain associated with language (Broca's area and Wernicke's area) may have begun to enlarge as long ago as 1 – 1.5 million years, in Homo erectus. However the most complete fossil erectus (nicknamed Turkana Boy; about 1.5 million years old) appears to have lacked a sufficiently tuned ribcage capable of fine control of speech."

"Origin of language" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_language

"Human spoken language may have evolved from a currency of hand and arm gestures, not simply through improvements in the basic vocalisations made by primates."

"This "gesture theory" of language evolution has been given weight by new findings showing that the meaning of a primate's gesture depends on the context in which it is used, and on what other signals are being given at the same time. Gesture is used more flexibly than vocalised communication in nonhuman primates, the researchers found."

"Bonobos and chimps both split from the line that led to Homo sapiens about 6 six million years ago, and they themselves parted about 2.5 million years ago. However, several lines of evidence suggest we are slightly closer to bonobos than we are to chimps. De Waal says that their work suggests bonobos are a more useful species for understanding the evolution of language. For one thing, they seem to have moved further from the common ancestor, at least in terms of the complexity of their communication, than have chimps."

"Bonobos and chimps 'speak' with gestures", NewScientist, 30 April 2007 : http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11756-bonobos-and-chimps-speak-with-gestures-.html

Answer 2

This would work best if you can ride the horse without your instructor because she seems to be clashing with you. A good way to train stubborn horses is with the 'ask, tell, remand' method. Ask the horse to trot by using your 'ideal cues',maybe a cluck and squeeze with your legs. If no response, give him a kick and sharply say trot. If still no response kick him and get after him until he trots off. Always ask in this way and you will begin to give him a chance to do the right thing. When you 'demand' something of him, make it unpleasant enough that he never wants you to have to demand from him again. Eventually, he will start to respond on your first try. Always give him three chances. Only give him three chances. Good luck. If you can't ride this horse and school him on your own, talk this method over with the instructor and see what she thinks about it. Ideally, this could help him be more responsive for other riders as well.