Let's Talk About Sex

I recently saw a Discovery program, could have been NOVA about the development of language in people. It basically pointed out how it appears speech became more used and complex for the main purpose of lying. The program focused on the fact that Humans were a social species that required interaction between people to survive. You know, development of social relationships to obtain food, receive and give warnings of danger and oddly enough, to be able and have secret sexual relationships.
Now, in watching this program it discussed how the ability to obtain food and warn of danger were both things that do not require spoken language. It helps, but is not necessary. However, to deceive each other, that took language.
For example; let's say you were in a small group during primitive times that wandered behind ancient herds of animals to get food. You were a small guy that got sick often. Well, low and behold you came across some fruit. A lot of fruit. If you were to let the others of your group know about this then you would have to wait to get your cut of the found food in accordance with your social standing in the group. Probably last. Meaning you would not benefit from this find anywhere near as much as the others. So instead of giving the normal call that food has been found, you, keep it secret.
You hide the food for yourself. Now it's springtime and hormones are abound. Yet in primitive human society not everyone gets the best choice in mates. Pretty much like now how the geek generally doesn't get the supermodel. During primitive times this could mean that your gene line ends. If your genes are not well suited for survival and you only get to mate with someone who is genetically inferior also, then your kids are pretty much doomed. No health care or government programs here. Just survival of the fittest.
But now you have a leg up. A store of highly sought after fruit. So you get the clan Betty, whom you have long lusted after but never had a chance with, to come with you to where the fruit is stored. The Betty, upon seeing the fruit obviously wants to have some and feels a, let's call it trade, is fine. But, Betty is dating the clan big man. The strongest and best hunter of the clan who would kick the clan geek's butt and then throw the clan Betty out on her tush if he were to discover the promiscuity of the fruit trade.
So needless to say neither the geek or the Betty are going to tell the rest of the clan about this little fruit arrangement. This goes on for long enough that Betty has one of the geek's babies. Now the geek's genes will survive and maybe have a better chance of mating with the Betty genes.
Then a monkey wrench comes along with the clan narc finding out about the arrangement. However instead of telling the narc decides a regular payment of fruit will keep them quiet. Fruit the narc can now use to get a Betty of their own.
You know how it is, geek finds fruit, fruit bribes Betty, Betty and geek get caught red handed, fruit bribes narc and provides several people in the clan a leg up.
All this complicated interaction cannot be maintained successfully with mere grunts and growls. It would require a little, finesse. So the greater the need for deception, considering humans huge need to deceive to advance that is a given, the more language advanced.
The funny part is it is mostly due to the need for less powerful or dominant members of our society to succeed in breeding and perpetuate their genetic line. Or in other words, it's all about the nookie.
Just ask yourself, why have a good job? Why make the big bucks? Why have the best car? If you have a good job then you can provide for your family (reproduction). The more money you make the better choice you have of people to date. Better choice of mates means a greater success of offspring and continuation of your genes. Why the good car? Well it's kind of like a peacocks feathers. A little bit of flash to get the best ass (slant rhyme).
In our society success in business, money and life is highly reliant on information. What information we possess and how we choose to use it. An adult version of deception.
In all these cases, better job, big bucks and new car we do it attain the best choice in mates. So information control is the most important key to success in out society. Information is controlled via communication and language and this success is only really necessary to get the best choice in mates and to ensure success of our offspring perpetuating our own genes; it would be completely rational to say language has developed and evolved only so we can have sex.
So next time you are having a conversation on the phone just remember you are talking because we all want to get a little somethin-somethin every once in a while.