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Continuities in vocal communication argue against a gestural origin of language

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2005

Robert M. Seyfarth*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104http://www.psych.upenn.edu/~seyfarth/Baboon%20research/index.htm

Abstract:

To conclude that language evolved from vocalizations, through gestures, then back to vocalizations again, one must first reject the simpler hypothesis that language evolved from prelinguistic vocalizations. There is no reason to do so. Many studies – not cited by Arbib – document continuities in behavior, perception, cognition, and neurophysiology between human speech and primate vocal communication.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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