Learned vocal and breathing behavior in an enculturated gorilla

Perlman, Marcus; Clark, Nathaniel

doi:10.1007/s10071-015-0889-6

Cited by 40 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 50 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Primates' vocalisations and human speech present homologies in terms of articulation and acoustics by production and use of proto‐vowels (through typical, ‘voiced’ calls/vocalisations such as grunts and barks, resulting from the activation of their vocal folds and their regular oscillation) and proto‐consonants (through atypical, ‘voiceless’ calls such as lip‐smacks and raspberries, resulting from supra‐laryngeal manoeuvring) either singly or in relatively simple syllable‐like call combinations (Lameira, , ; Lameira, Maddieson & Zuberbuhler, ; Lameira et al ., , ; Boë et al ., ; Bergman et al ., ). Growing data report consonant‐like signal types emitted by great apes [bonobos (Taglialatela, Savage‐Rumbaugh & Baker, ); chimpanzees (Hopkins, Taglialatela & Leavens, ; Taglialatela et al ., ; Watts, ); gorillas (Lameira, Maddieson & Zuberbuhler, ; Perlman & Clark, ; Robbins et al ., ); orangutans (e.g. van Schaik et al ., ; Hardus et al ., ; Wich et al ., )] and various monkey species [e.g.…”

Section: Theories Of the Origins Of Languagementioning

confidence: 99%

The origins of gestures and language: history, current advances and proposed theories

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Investigating in depth the mechanisms underlying human and non-human primate intentional communication systems (involving gestures, vocalisations, facial expressions and eye behaviours) can shed light on the evolutionary roots of language. Reports on non-human primates, particularly great apes, suggest that gestural communication would have been a crucial prerequisite for the emergence of language, mainly based on the evidence of large communication repertoires and their associated multifaceted nature of intentionality that are key properties of language. Such research fuels important debates on the origins of gestures and language. We review here three non-mutually exclusive processes that can explain mainly great apes' gestural acquisition and development: phylogenetic ritualisation, ontogenetic ritualisation, and learning via social negotiation. We hypothesise the following scenario for the evolutionary origins of gestures: gestures would have appeared gradually through evolution via signal ritualisation following the principle of derived activities, with the key involvement of emotional expression and processing. The increasing level of complexity of socioecological lifestyles and associated daily manipulative activities might then have enabled the acquisition and development of different interactional strategies throughout the life cycle. Many studies support a multimodal origin of language. However, we stress that the origins of language are not only multimodal, but more broadly multicausal. We propose a multicausal theory of language origins which better explains current findings. It postulates that primates' communicative signalling is a complex trait continually shaped by a cost-benefit trade-off of signal production and processing of interactants in relation to four closely interlinked categories of evolutionary and life cycle factors: species, individual and context-related characteristics as well as behaviour and its characteristics. We conclude by suggesting directions for future research to improve our understanding of the evolutionary roots of gestures and language.

show abstract

Section: Theories Of the Origins Of Languagementioning

confidence: 99%

The origins of gestures and language: history, current advances and proposed theories

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, there is clear evidence for a cultural spread across a group in the chimpanzee case . Finally, the enculturated gorilla Koko shows clear voluntary control over her breathing, making a variety of huffs, lip buzzes, and even playing the harmonica . What makes these apparent exceptions interesting is that none involves control of phonation, but rather of the jaws, lips, and tongue (and some respiratory control)—a fact that will become crucial below when we consider mechanistic hypotheses about the neural basis of vocal learning.…”

Section: Vocal Learning As a Key Innovation For Speechmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sequence and hierarchy in vocal rhythms and phonology

Fitch

2019

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

I explore the neural and evolutionary origins of phonological hierarchy, building on Peter MacNeilage's frame/content model, which suggests that human speech evolved from primate nonvocal jaw oscillations, for example, lip smack displays, combined with phonation. Considerable recent data, reviewed here, support this proposition. I argue that the evolution of speech motor control required two independent components. The first, identified by MacNeilage, is the diversification of phonetic “content” within a simple sequential “frame,” and would be within reach of nonhuman primates, by simply intermittently activating phonation during lip smack displays. Such voicing control requires laryngeal control, hypothesized to necessitate direct corticomotor connections to the nucleus ambiguus. The second component, proposed here, involves imposing additional hierarchical rhythmic structure upon the “flat” control sequences typifying mammalian vocal tract oscillations and is required for the flexible combinatorial capacity observed in modern phonology. I hypothesize that phonological hierarchy resulted from a marriage of a preexisting capacity for sequential structure seen in other primates, with novel hierarchical motor control circuitry (potentially evolved in tool use and/or musical contexts). In turn, this phonological hierarchy paved the way for phrasal syntactic hierarchy. I support these arguments using comparative and neural data from nonhuman primates and birdsong.

show abstract

“…Accordingly, behavioral studies of monkeys reported of ability to modify contact calls with intonations (Biben et al, 1986;Sugiura, 1998) or of learning to use them in order to request objects (Hihara et al, 2003). Anecdotal reports of more generalized volitional vocal control, albeit rudimentary, were also reported in apes (Hayes & Hayes, 1952;Hopkins et al, 2007;Koda et al, 2007;Koda et al, 2012;Lameira et al, 2015;Laporte & Zuberbühler, 2010;Perlman & Clark, 2015;Taglialatela et al, 2003;Wich et al, 2008).…”

Section: The Role Of the Ads With The Detection Of Contact Callsmentioning

confidence: 98%

From where to what: A neuroanatomically based evolutionary model of the emergence of speech in humans

Poliva

2018

Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on the Evolution of Language (Evolang12)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the brain of primates, the auditory cortex connects with the frontal lobe via the temporal pole (auditory ventral stream; AVS) and via the inferior parietal lobe (auditory dorsal stream; ADS). The AVS is responsible for sound recognition, and the ADS for sound-localization, voice detection and integration of calls with faces. I propose that the primary role of the ADS in non-human primates is the detection and response to contact calls. These calls are exchanged between tribe members (e.g., mother-offspring) and are used for monitoring location. Detection of contact calls occurs by the ADS identifying a voice, localizing it, and verifying that the corresponding face is out of sight. Once a contact call is detected, the primate produces a contact call in return via descending connections from the frontal lobe to brainstem motor nuclei. Because the ADS of present day humans also performs speech production and repetition, I further propose an evolutionary course for the transition from contact call exchange to an early form of speech. In accordance with this model, structural changes to the ADS endowed early members of the genus Homo with partial vocal control. This development was beneficial as it enabled offspring to modify their contact calls with intonations for signaling high or low levels of distress to their mother. Eventually, individuals were capable of participating in yes-no question-answer conversations. In these conversations the offspring emitted a low-level distress call for inquiring about the safety of objects (e.g., food), and the mother responded with a high-or low-level distress call to signal approval or disapproval of the interaction. Gradually, the ADS and its connections with brainstem motor regions became more robust and vocal control became more volitional. Speech emerged once vocal control was sufficient for inventing novel calls.

show abstract

Learned vocal and breathing behavior in an enculturated gorilla

Cited by 40 publications

References 50 publications

The origins of gestures and language: history, current advances and proposed theories

The origins of gestures and language: history, current advances and proposed theories

Sequence and hierarchy in vocal rhythms and phonology

From where to what: A neuroanatomically based evolutionary model of the emergence of speech in humans

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About