Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Human Language May Have Evolved To Help Our Ancestors Make Tools

Posted by Soulskill on from the try-pointing-the-sharp-thing-toward-that-mastodon dept.

sciencehabit writes: If there's one thing that distinguishes humans from other animals, it's our ability to use language. But when and why did this trait evolve? A new study concludes that the art of conversation may have arisen early in human evolution, because it made it easier for our ancestors to teach each other how to make stone tools — a skill that was crucial for the spectacular success of our lineage. The study involved getting a number of college students to try to make their own primitive stone tools, some using language, others not. The team discovered that only those that used language were able to make effective tools.

5 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. Human language has evolved to help our ancestors by ArcadeMan · · Score: 4, Funny

    PC LOAD LETTER? What the fuck does that mean?

    --
    Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
  2. The real reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." -- Lily Tomlin

    1. Re:The real reason by Hognoxious · · Score: 3, Funny

      s/talking/arguing/

      Ugg: That pointy stick rubbish! This pointy stick good!

      Ogg: Stupid neckbeard.

      Ugg. We cavemen. All neckbeards. Everythingbeards.

      Ogg: True, LOL!

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. That's it !! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're a __douchebag__ and a tool

    Folks, we have a perfect specimen of the original reason why human invented language ...
     
    TO CURSE AT ONE ANOTHER

  4. Re:what language is by Hognoxious · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wonder if the invention of cussing helped tool-making

    Speaking as someone who is rather clumsy at carpentry, I reckon it was the other way round.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."