* No written records: The first words were spoken long before writing was invented, so there's no historical record.
* Evolution of language: Language didn't develop overnight. It likely evolved gradually over thousands of years, with early humans using gestures, sounds, and simple vocalizations before developing more complex speech.
* Individual vs. collective: Even if we could pinpoint the first word, it's likely that it was spoken by someone who has long since passed away. It wasn't a single individual but rather a process that happened across generations.
So, while we can't know the first word or who spoke it, the quest to understand the origins of language is a fascinating one that continues to engage linguists and anthropologists today.