* No Written Records: The first languages emerged long before writing was invented. We have no written records from that time period.
* Evolution of Language: Languages are constantly evolving. The language spoken by our earliest ancestors would have been drastically different from any modern language.
* Multiple Origins: Linguists believe that language likely developed independently in multiple locations around the world.
Instead of a "first" language, we can talk about the evolution of language:
* Early Hominids: Scientists believe our earliest ancestors used forms of communication, likely nonverbal, like gestures and facial expressions.
* Proto-Languages: Over time, these developed into proto-languages, which were more complex but still lacked a written form.
* The Origins of Language Families: From these proto-languages, the major language families we know today (Indo-European, Afro-Asiatic, etc.) emerged.
In short, the "first language" is a mystery. We can only study the fascinating evolution of language as it's reflected in the languages spoken today.