Final answer:
The history of spoken word can be traced back to oral traditions prior to writing, with early Judaism and ancient Greek society among the earliest to use spoken narratives. Written records began with the cuneiform script in Sumer around 3400 BC. The spoken word was crucial for preserving history, mythology, and cultural values before writing was developed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Origins of Spoken Word in Ancient Civilizations
The earliest records of spoken word arguably predate written literature and are rooted in ancient oral traditions. Before the advent of writing, cultures such as those in early Judaism and ancient Greece relied on spoken narratives to transmit their histories, myths, and cultural values. Examples of these oral traditions turned into literature include epic poems like The Iliad and The Odyssey, attributed to the Greek poet Homer, as well as the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. These works were later written down but were initially passed down through generations orally.
In terms of recorded spoken word, the civilizations of Ancient Egypt and Sumeria in the 4th millennium BC are often recognized for producing some of the earliest examples of written literature, with the development of the cuneiform script in Sumer around 3400 BC. This form of writing evolved from pictographs to the cuneiform script and was used to transcribe spoken language into symbolic form.
Yet, oral traditions have likely existed even prior to these documented beginnings. With the spread and refinement of writing, these spoken narratives slowly transitioned into the written form, preserving them for future generations.