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Anthropologists estimate that human language was first invented about 2,000 years ago.

a. true
b. false

User Richsage
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Final answer:

The claim that human language was invented 2,000 years ago is false; research suggests language emerged between 50,000 and 200,000 years ago, and it has been a critical element in the development of human culture and society.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that human language was first invented about 2,000 years ago is false. Anthropologists estimate that the capacity for language in humans developed much earlier. Based on indirect evidence and research, it's believed that language may have emerged between 50,000 and 200,000 years ago. The use of language has been crucial in the development of human culture, aiding in the sharing of knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes, which in turn has fostered cooperation, learning, and adaptation among humans.

Through the study of biocultural coevolution, it is understood that biological evolution enabled the human capacity for language, which then became a critical tool for cultural evolution. Complex language allowed our ancestors to create societies with shared cultures and facilitated the transmission of ideas and innovations. During the Paleolithic period, for instance, archaeological evidence suggests that groups in China developed symbolic language, which was foundational to their culture and society.

Overall, the remarkable biological feature that distinguishes humans is the ability to invent, memorize, and communicate using symbolic language, which has been possible due to specific features in the human brain and vocal anatomy. This ability has been present since the emergence of modern humans, at least 100,000 years ago, and has been instrumental in our species' survival and development.

User Frank Vu
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