Final answer:
Human evolutionists study the physiological changes in the hypoglossal canal that controlled tongue movement and may have allowed the first words to be spoken.
Step-by-step explanation:
Human evolutionists have studied the physiological changes in the hypoglossal canal and other aspects of the hominin vocal tract to understand the emergence of speech capabilities. The development of spoken language in humans is attributed to several evolutionary changes, including a descended larynx and a large, rounded tongue that improved articulation. The hypoglossal nerve, responsible for tongue movement, plays a critical role in these articulatory abilities, suggesting that physical changes impacting this nerve facilitated the production of the first words. The hyoid bone's resemblance to that of modern humans in fossil records indicates that these vocal tract features may have been present around 500,000 years ago. Consequently, Neanderthals likely had vocal abilities similar to humans, although debate exists on whether they could produce complex speech.