Quentin Atkinson of the University of Auckland, New Zealand has recently published research in Science Magazine that all human language originated in Africa. Mr. Atkinson believes the ancient “click” language, called Khoisan is the first language known to humans and that all of the 6,000+ known languages have roots from this single tongue. Khoisan is thought to have originated 50,000 to 70,000 years ago.
It’s a bold and controversial claim but it has some solid scientific research to back the idea up. So how did Mr. Atkinson come to this conclusion? A computer program was used to study not words but sounds in 504 languages. By using sounds that are used to form words (called “phoneme“), the application used an algorithm, which determined that they all pointed back to a Khoisan.
From a linguistic standpoint, it is interesting to think about the prospect of a single language having roots in all others. While it’s difficult to fully jump on board with what the research claims, it does indeed further the discussion of language origin history. But as “the obvious place to look for the evolutionary origin of language is the cradle of humanity, Africa.”
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FAQs
What is the claim about the origin of all human languages?
Quentin Atkinson of the University of Auckland claims that all human languages originated in Africa, with the Khoisan “click” language being the first known language. His research, based on studying sounds (phonemes) in 504 languages, suggests that all known languages can trace their roots back to this ancient tongue.
How did Atkinson’s research reach the conclusion that languages originated from Africa?
Atkinson’s research used a computer algorithm to analyze phonemes—the sounds that form words—across 504 languages. By tracing patterns and similarities in these sounds, the algorithm pointed back to the Khoisan language in Africa as the potential origin.
What makes the Khoisan language significant in language history?
The Khoisan language, known for its distinct “click” sounds, is thought to have originated 50,000 to 70,000 years ago. It is considered significant because Atkinson’s research suggests that it may be the root of all human languages, making it a critical part of language evolution.
What is the controversy around the claim that all languages originated in Africa?
While Atkinson’s research presents solid data, the idea that all languages originated from Africa is still a bold and controversial claim. Some linguists question whether the data is sufficient to prove that all 6,000+ languages can trace their origins back to a single language, though it certainly furthers the debate on language evolution.