The assumption appears to be that without the ability to
form 'human' words there is no language.
That's all I was calling into question. The emergence of
a gene that enabled human speech is not necessarily the origin
point for language.
Mere cats uses different noises to shout 'Snake!' and 'Bird of Prey!'
which indicates a verbal 'language' ... not necessarily a sophisticated one, but then we just might not understand the
full syntax etc.
The origins of communication strategies can be encompassed fairly
easily within a natural selection framework, where co-operation
enhances the chance of survival. Human speech is just one, and
is not really unique.