Language begins with Homo erectus.
There are two types of linguist: those who believe it’s all in the genes, and those who do not. Everett is firmly in the latter camp. Much of his book is a thoroughgoing effort to rebut Chomsky and all his works. Nonetheless, the book makes a strong case for the gradual evolution of language in tandem with the gradual development of hominin society. The striking aspect of Everett’s theory is that he locates this in the reign of Homo erectus, not Homo sapiens. He argues that culture emerged some two million years ago, not some 200,000 years ago. And language was its staunch companion.
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