一項新研究揭示了古老 DNA 如何促進人類語言的演化
New study reveals how ancient DNA helped evolve human language
Updated at: June 13, 2026 at 10:30 AM
數十年來，科學家們一直致力於尋找單一的「語言基因」，但一項引人入勝的新研究表明，我們說話的能力要複雜得多。
For decades, scientists searched for a single 'language gene,' but a fascinating new study suggests our ability to speak is far more complex.
研究人員已經確定了被稱為「人類祖先快速進化區域」(HAQERs) 的微小基因組區域。
Researchers have identified tiny genomic regions called Human Ancestor Quickly Evolved Regions (HAQERs).
儘管這些區域僅佔我們DNA的不到0.1%，它們卻在人類大腦發育中扮演了「音量旋鈕」 的角色，提供了複雜語言所必需的生物硬體。
Despite occupying less than 0.1% of our DNA, these regions act as 'volume knobs' for brain development, providing the biological hardware necessary for complex language.
這些HAQERs在我們與黑猩猩分化後，但在與尼安德塔人分道揚鑣之前就已經出現，這表明語言的潛能早在現代人類完全發展之前就已存在。
These HAQERs emerged after we split from chimpanzees but before we diverged from Neanderthals, indicating that the potential for language existed long before modern humans fully developed.
當智人大約在13萬5000年前出現時，這種生物基礎架構已經就位，為我們今天所見的複雜社會行為奠定了基礎。
By the time Homo sapiens appeared roughly 135,000 years ago, this biological framework was already in place, setting the stage for the sophisticated social behaviors we see today.
然而，這種進化也伴隨著風險；賦予語言能力的大腦發育過程同時也導致了嬰兒頭部變大，進而造成了分娩上的挑戰。
However, this evolution came with risks; the same brain development that enabled language also led to larger infant head sizes, creating childbirth challenges.
歸根結底，語言並非突如其來的發明，而是一個緩慢且深遠的進化過程。
Ultimately, language was not a sudden invention but a slow, profound evolutionary process.
透過這些古老的遺傳開關來調節我們的大腦，大自然為當今地球上所有流通的語言提供了基礎。
By tuning our brains through these ancient genetic switches, nature provided the foundation for every language spoken on Earth today.
