Language’s early start

LANGUAGE may have been developed almost a million years earlier than previously thought, an academic claims.

Scientists had thought speech was invented with the evolution of homo sapiens 200,000 years ago.

But Daniel Everett, professor of global studies at Bentley University, Massachusetts, said homo erectus, our first ancestor to stand upright, must have been able to speak.

“He travelled all over the world,” Professor Everett said, stating erectus must have had language to use paddle boats to travel across the oceans.