Born in Africa: Not just humans, language too.
By DoctorDidi
@DoctorDidi (7018)
India
August 9, 2011 5:20am CST
It is now an established truth that modern humans originated in Africa. But of late, a researcher analyzing the sounds in languages spoken around the world has detected an ancient signal that points to southern Africa as the place where modern human language originated. The finding fits well with the evidence from fossil skulls and DNA that modern humans originated in Africa. Language is at least 50,000 years old, the date that modern humans dispersed from Africa. So, we, the humans of the modern age, must be grateful to Africa because it is the native place where not only we took our birth but also learned how to speak. Thanks to Africa.
6 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
9 Aug 11
It would be helpful if you could give a reference to the article where you found this information. What, exactly, do you mean by an "ancient signal"? and why does it "point to southern Africa"? More information, please!
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
9 Aug 11
For me, it these things are not important. I am European, I speak Hungarian and I am proud of that. I don't really care and believe these discoveries. I am sorry, but this is how I feel regarding this topic. I am proud of being what I am and who I am, I am proud of my nation's history, but I cannot thank Africa for nothing.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
9 Aug 11
That's very possible friend cause no where would you find a place on earth where animal life is so diversified, it has fascinated a lot of people that most zoos or nature parks keep African animals. Even ancient Romans were fascinated by what they saw in the lands they conquered that they brought back a lot to ancient Rome.
@QeeGood (1213)
• Sweden
9 Aug 11
It is probably that Africa is located where the Eqautor is situated on the middle on the globe where the life begun. The sun and the warmth were beneficial for life to grow and develop into several species. That makes Africa to an important place to explore more of ancient time.
@RBBantiles (347)
• Philippines
9 Aug 11
Our Negritos are believed to have migrated to the Philippines from Africa through land bridges so far, far back in the mists of time. Most likely this is true. This being so, I will not be surprised if some words of the Negrito language have word counterparts with same meanings among those of the Bushmen and other diminutive peoples of Africa. I hope that someone someday will take up the study of comparing languages.
On a related matter, there was once a group of Maoris from New Zealand who in the 1980s visited the Higaonon tribe of Misamis Oriental (Mindanao). Both Maoris and Higaonons were pleasantly surprised to discover that they have the same words for many numbers. The reason for the similarity? We don't know as yet because no one has as yet conducted a study of the oral traditions of both peoples to discover possible clues to this similarity. Perhaps in the future archeologists in both countries (New Zealand and Philippines) will likewise be able to enlighten us.
