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Evolutionary Linguistics Linguistics Psycholinguistics

When Did We Start Asking Questions?

Estimated read time 6 min read

Questions represent a monumental leap in human evolution, demanding a complex toolkit of intonation, syntax, and abstract words like “why.” Far more than a linguistic trick, asking a question requires a sophisticated Theory of Mind and a cooperative spirit. This post explores the archaeological and cognitive clues that suggest when our ancestors first developed the ability to ask a question, an act that sparked the dawn of human curiosity and collective knowledge.