Language History

Early humans likely used gestures and sounds to communicate as a Prehistoric Communication. Spoken language is believed to have developed around 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. These are hypothetical, reconstructed languages that are the ancestors of modern languages. Proto-Indo-European is one of the most studied proto-languages. As ancient languages, Sumerians and Egyptians used some of the earliest written languages, dating back to around 3000 BCE. Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs are among the first writing systems. Classical Languages Greek and Latin played significant roles in developing Western languages. Sanskrit was crucial in South Asia. As Ancient Languages, Sumerian and Egyptian are some of the earliest written languages, dating back to around 3000 BCE. Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs are among the first writing systems. Greek and Latin, as classical languages, played significant roles in developing Western languages. Sanskrit was crucial in South Asia. As Medieval to Modern Languages, Middle Ages: Languages like Old English, Old French, and Old High German evolved. The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 significantly influenced the English language. Renaissance and Beyond: The invention of the printing press in the 15th century helped standardize languages. Modern languages like English, Spanish, French, and others began to take their current forms. As Contemporary Languages, Globalization: Today, languages continue to evolve. English has become a global lingua franca, while millions worldwide speak other languages like Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and Hindi. Digital Age: The internet and technology have introduced new words and phrases, influencing how languages are used and developed.