Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T20:22:15.600Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Territorial song and facial gesture: A language precursor in apes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 1999

Maria Ujhelyi
Affiliation:
Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University of Medicine, 1089 Budapest, [email protected] www.sote.hu/magtud

Abstract

The natural communication system of chimpanzees has some unique characteristics rooted in two possible ways of producing call variants in primates. The chimpanzee call repertoire contains variants available to all group members. The transfer presupposes voluntary control and learnability. Chimpanzee vocalization (or its homologue in the common ancestor of chimpanzee and man) seems to represent a real precursor of human language.

Type
Continuing Commentary
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)