Humans are unique in that they are the only ones who can articulate sounds into forming speech. Primates though have a rudimentary way of communication. Baboon calls might hold the key to human speech development as scientists study them.
Like most primates, baboons communicate through grunts and mating calls. The grunts and other sounds might not be understood by humans, but scientists hear certain vowel sounds that are very much like what humans use. This has been studied by Dr. Louis-Jean Boe from the Grenoble Alpes University.
Dr. Boe has studied the sounds made by baboons by listening to 1,335 recorded sounds made by baboons. He has also studied the anatomy of the baboon's tongue. The study would go against the long held notion that human speech only developed along with the development of the lower larynx.
The study has found that the muscles found in the tongue of baboons could also be found in the human tongue. This has been key to the making of language and speech, as observed by the researchers. Human vocal organs are found to have developed because of this ability of earlier primates and hominids to produce something like speech.
The study has much implications. It has been held that human speech only developed 25 million years ago, according to ABC News. According to the theory, human speech has only been developed with Homo sapiens. The study would debunk this notion.
The study has tied in with an earlier study that has found primates might be able to communicate almost the same way as humans do, as WDSU News reports. Professor Scott Moisik from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics has said speech precursors in earlier primates could go beyond 25 million years. Professor Moisik is not involved in the present study.
Human speech might be unique on the Earth. However, its development could be seen in the calls of primates such as baboons. Baboon calls might hold the key to human speech development. A new species of gibbon has also been discovered recently.
