Homo erectus may have been a sailor and could speak: Study

Homo erectus, the ancestors of modern humans which emerged in Africa about 1.8 million years ago, may have been mariners complete with sailing lingo, as per US-based linguist Daniel Everett. While other scientists were not convinced, Everett argued the species must have needed some form of language to communicate while sailing, for example, to say 'paddle there' or 'don't paddle'.