However, we can make educated guesses based on what we know about the evolution of humans and our ancestors.
* Early hominids: While some researchers believe early hominids like Australopithecines might have had some form of rudimentary communication, it's unlikely they had language as we know it.
* Homo habilis and Homo erectus: These species, who lived between 2.4 million to 117,000 years ago, likely had more complex communication systems than their predecessors. They may have used gestures, calls, and possibly even early forms of symbolic language.
* Homo sapiens: Our species emerged around 300,000 years ago, and by 100,000 years ago, we had developed complex language capabilities. This is supported by evidence from archaeological finds and the study of human genetics.
Therefore, a conservative estimate suggests that language, as we understand it, has existed for at least 100,000 years.
However, it's important to remember that this is just an estimate. Language likely developed gradually over a very long period, and it's possible that earlier forms of communication may have existed even further back in time.