scholarly journals Vocalizations Used in Low-arousal Situations in Primates: Implications for Speech Evolution

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-43
Author(s):  
Noriko KATSU
Keyword(s):  
Speech Evolution

scholarly journals Divergent acoustic properties of gelada and baboon vocalizations and their implications for the evolution of human speech

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan L. Gustison ◽  
Thore J. Bergman
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Cycle Duration ◽  
Speech Rhythm ◽  
Call Type ◽  
Human Speech ◽  
Temporal Properties ◽  
Temporal Features ◽  
Vowel Space ◽  
Speech Evolution ◽  
Number Of Cycles

Abstract Human speech has many complex spectral and temporal features traditionally thought to be absent in the vocalizations of other primates. Recent explorations of the vocal capabilities of non-human primates are challenging this view. Here, we continue this trend by exploring the spectro-temporal properties of gelada (Theropithecus gelada) vocalizations. First, we made cross-species comparisons of geladas, chacma baboons, and human vowel space area. We found that adult male and female gelada exhaled grunts–a call type shared with baboons—have formant profiles that overlap more with human vowel space than do baboon grunts. These gelada grunts also contained more modulation of fundamental and formant frequencies than did baboon grunts. Second, we compared formant profiles and modulation of exhaled grunts to the derived call types (those not shared with baboons) produced by gelada males. These derived calls contained divergent formant profiles, and a subset of them, notably wobbles and vocalized yawns, were more modulated than grunts. Third, we investigated the rhythmic patterns of wobbles, a call type shown previously to contain cycles that match the 3–8 Hz tempo of speech. We use a larger dataset to show that the wobble rhythm overlaps more with speech rhythm than previously thought. We also found that variation in cycle duration depends on the production modality; specifically, exhaled wobbles were produced at a slower tempo than inhaled wobbles. Moreover, the variability in cycle duration within wobbles aligns with a linguistic property known as ‘Menzerath’s law’ in that there was a negative association between cycle duration and wobble size (i.e. the number of cycles). Taken together, our results add to growing evidence that non-human primates are anatomically capable of producing modulated sounds. Our results also support and expand on current hypotheses of speech evolution, including the ‘neural hypothesis’ and the ‘bimodal speech rhythm hypothesis’.

Hominid divergence and speech evolution

1974 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 417-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Speech Evolution

scholarly journals Internal states and extrinsic factors both determine monkey vocal production

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (15) ◽  
pp. 3978-3983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana A. Liao ◽  
Yisi S. Zhang ◽  
Lili X. Cai ◽  
Asif A. Ghazanfar
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Information ◽  
Physical Distance ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Vocal Production ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Internal States ◽  
Behavioral Paradigm ◽  
Speech Evolution ◽  
Vocal Acoustics

A key question for understanding speech evolution is whether or not the vocalizations of our closest living relatives—nonhuman primates—represent the precursors to speech. Some believe that primate vocalizations are not volitional but are instead inextricably linked to internal states like arousal and thus bear little resemblance to human speech. Others disagree and believe that since many primates can use their vocalizations strategically, this demonstrates a degree of voluntary vocal control. In the current study, we present a behavioral paradigm that reliably elicits different types of affiliative vocalizations from marmoset monkeys while measuring their heart rate fluctuations using noninvasive electromyography. By modulating both the physical distance between marmosets and the sensory information available to them, we find that arousal levels are linked, but not inextricably, to vocal production. Different arousal levels are, generally, associated with changes in vocal acoustics and the drive to produce different call types. However, in contexts where marmosets are interacting, the production of these different call types is also affected by extrinsic factors such as the timing of a conspecific’s vocalization. These findings suggest that variability in vocal output as a function of context might reflect trade-offs between the drive to perpetuate vocal contact and conserving energy.

Vocal Learning in Pinnipeds: A Model System for Human Speech Evolution

2008 ◽  
Vol 123 (5) ◽  
pp. 3507-3507
Author(s):  
William T. Fitch ◽  
Ronald J. Schusterman ◽  
Colleen Reichmuth ◽  
Marija Spasikova ◽  
Daniel Mietchen
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Model System ◽  
Human Speech ◽  
Speech Evolution

AUDITORY PERCEPTION AND SPEECH EVOLUTION

1976 ◽  
Vol 280 (1 Origins and E) ◽  
pp. 708-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard M. Warren
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Perception ◽  
Speech Evolution

Speech evolution: Let barking dogs sleep

1998 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Lieberman
Keyword(s):  
Emotional States ◽  
Area Model ◽  
Vocal Signals ◽  
Speech Evolution ◽  
Wernicke’S Area ◽  
The Brain

Many animals, including dogs, produce vocal signals in which their mouths open and close producing “syllables.” In contrast, the vocal signals of species other than humans are tied to emotional states. The Broca's-Wernicke's area model of the brain bases of language is wrong.

scholarly journals FEMALE’S SPEECH EVOLUTION IN THE ENGLISH NOVELS OF 19–20 CC.

Мова ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (33) ◽  
pp. 34-39
Author(s):  
Ірина Ігорівна РЕПУШЕВСЬКА
Keyword(s):  
Speech Evolution

The forgotten role of consonant-like calls in theories of speech evolution

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 559-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriano R. Lameira
Keyword(s):  
Great Ape ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Primate Brain ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Speech Evolution

AbstractAckermann et al. provide an informative neurological road-map to primate call communication. However, the proposed model for speech evolution inadequately integrates comparative primate evidence. Critically, great ape voiceless calls are explicitly rendered unimportant, leaving the proposed model deprived of behavioral feedstock and proximate selective drivers capable of triggering the neurological transformations described by the authors in the primate brain.

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