The debate on the age and origin of language suggests it may have emerged between 10,000 to 100,000 years ago, with varying theories on its development. Some argue that language began as a verbalization of sign language or as imitations of animal sounds, while others propose it served as a means of communication for hunting or warning off strangers. The discussion also touches on how early humans might have chosen specific sounds to convey meanings and how these meanings spread within small, hunter-gatherer communities. Additionally, the conversation references experiments with robots that mimic sound replication, drawing parallels to how humans might have developed language through social interaction. Overall, the origins of language remain a complex interplay of biological, social, and cognitive factors that are still not fully understood.
