What was the first word?

Question

And who wrote it?

Answer 1

The first word wouldn't have been written, because speech far precedes writing...I think it was probably something along the lines of "gimme"...

Answer 2

There is a common misconception that there could be a "first" word. We find that language has to come about "all at once." The French philosopher, Jacque Derrida, claims that language emerges as a group of signs together.

Think about it. If there was only one word--let's say "rock"--it would have NO meaning. It would have no meaning because it cannot be compared to anything or because it is used for everything. If you label everything with the word "rock," you don't have a word because it is not functioning to mark out a certain framework. If you label stones as "rock," and only have a word for "rock", you exist in an impossibility because by making such a definitive claim you also (whether spoken or not) are concieving the idea of "not-rock" (otherwise, you have no way to limit how your singular word is used). Therefore, the creation of language has to come about all at once with multiple words, and then it still grows and develops further after that.

PS--For those answering using the passage from the Bible out of John of "In the beginning, there was the WORD and...", I have to make you aware that that may not actually BE WORD. In the earlier Greek, the "word" used in the Bible there for WORD was "logos" which can also mean "ratio, plan, proportion, study, logic, word, utterance, etc.", so some translator selected to use the word "WORD".

Answer 3

Good question.
Most likely, the first word appeared in a group of ancestors not yet quite human several million years ago. It is very hard to imagine there even was a first word, for what is a word outside of the context of language? Yet there must have been one.
Which utterance first qualified as a word could probably be debated. Animals communicate through different screams. Most likely, human language developed through many of our ancestors as these sounds became more precise and the brains of the first hominids more capable of creating differing contexts in which to use them. But obviously, whatever that word was, it belongs to a language that has been dead a long time ago.
As for the first written word, that would belong to ancient Sumer and Babylon (Or at least as far as the archaeological record tells us) - there would appear to be inventories and promissory business notes. Not the most exciting thing in the world, but it would seem writing was first used by merchants and bureaucrats to keep track of quantities.

Answer 4

I believe the cave man where the first who uttered the first word. Ma are the first uttered words by babies. So i believe it is the first word. But the one who wrote the first word maybe the cave man too but not exactly as the English alphabet as we have today. The Greeks were the first who have written as such because it is in Athens who first started the learnings in the Academy.

Answer 5

Bruce has the right of it when it comes to people.

As for the first word ever:

"In the beginning, there was the Word and the word was God. And the Word was with God. And God said, "Is this thing turned on...?"

Answer 6

I have no idea what the first word was, but if I had to guess, I'd say either "Ma" or some variation or "No". In many languages the affectionate word for mother and the word for "no" are very similar.

As far as the the first written word, check out the link below for the oldest known writing. Your guess is as good as mine as to what it means.

Answer 7

No one WROTE the first word, the first word was spoken.

The word: "Righteous!"

Answer 8

THE WORD was the first word and nobody wrote it.

In the beginning was THE WORD.

Nothing else mind, just THE WORD.

Words don't need to be written!

Answer 9

The first word is spoken. It was probably U'.

Answer 10

The first spoken word was probably something like 'Ungh'. And I'll bet, egocentristic creatures that we are, it meant "Me" or "I" or "Mine".