Researchers may have found when humans first spoke – 1.6 million years ago. This is eight times earlier than we thought. Studies show that the first human language came from Africa. An expert said speech was the key which made a lot of human physical and cultural changes possible.

The expert wrote a book about language. He says our brain got bigger 1.5 million years ago. An area for language developed in our brain. Also, tissue in our neck made sounds and speech possible. Speech allowed humans to move all over the world. Humans could think of and plan things, and pass on knowledge.