Barbara Laurence wrote:
> It's a mistake to think that early humans first grubbed for food and
> shelter, then when they were fed and warm and dry made art. Or that
> so-called badic needs come first, desire second. Early humans danced while
> they stalked their prey; sang when they threshed grain; carved symbols on
> their hoes.
This is the point of departure for at least one theory of the origin of language -- language developed out of ritual. And since babbling is *known* to be central to an infant's learning to speak, I presume it was also part of the origin of language c. 100,000 years ago.
But *early* humans didn't sing when the threshed grain because by the time humans were threshing grain it was rather late in the day -- just a few minutes ago in human history.
Carrol