Evolving Communication

Maja Nelson

            Jared Diamond and Bo Graslund have two very different views on the evolution of human language. In Diamond's view, his concept of ‘The Great Leap Forward' (Diamond p.32), supports the idea that modern human language cropped up with the rise of Homo sapiens around 40,000 years ago in Europe and that if early humans, Neanderthals specifically, had spoken language it was much simpler or nonexistent (Diamond p.56). In contrast, Graslund states that spoken language slowly evolved as a result of bipedalism, and that as early as a half a million years ago archaic sapiens could have developed language comparable to a modern 6-7 year old child (Graslund p.134).

            One of the main steps in order for language to develop was that the proper anatomy had to evolve to allow humans the ability of articulated speech (Graslund p.130, Diamond p. 55). Graslund states that this ability developed as a result of bipedalism, which opened up space for the throat and palate to broaden (Graslund p. 117). In contrast, Diamond states that this change in anatomy developed within the last sixty thousand years (Diamond p. 54).

            Diamond's argument is based on the idea that language gave rise to human innovation, and prior to the change in anatomy, culture developed very slowly. His evidence of slow cultural progress is largely based on the crudeness of tools of early humans, claiming they were not consistent or distinctive to imply specific functions (Diamond p.47). He states that for many millions of years since the species divide we have remained little more than glorified apes (Diamond p.32). Conversely, Graslund describes carefully crafted wooden spears dated to 400,000 years ago and uses these findings to illustrate that late erectus and early archaic sapiens had an advanced consciousness and were capable of intellectual planning (Graslund p.113).