Language in Primates

Post date: Sep 26, 2011 3:55:10 AM

I have just been watching Stephen Fry’s Planet Word on BBC, and he’s talking about what I studied in essentially every introductory book about linguistics that although our vocal apparatus is primarily for other purposes, it has the ability to be used for producing language sounds, and that what differentiates us from other animals is that their vocal apparatus is unable to do so, be it because of the location of larynx or other parts. But…

Why do we assume that animals need a vocal apparatus like ours to be able to produce speech sounds? I’m primarily arguing on the ability to produce speech sounds only, and not on any other inherent cognitive differences. Arguably, before human’s developed a sophisticated form of language as we know it today, they used similar call sounds as most primates do today. Over the time they developed this into a sophisticated system by creating more and more combinations and assigning meanings to them. But essentially they used what they already had, and utilized and developed their call signs into speech. This is how language as we know it today evolved.

This argument that our closely related primates are unable to produce human speech sounds because their vocal apparatus is different in terms of the position of larynx and other muscles on the face and in throat is fundamentally flawed. When human were in their position thousands of years ago they modified their own speech sounds and evolved it into language. They did not start mimicking, or learnt another species’ (or aliens, for that matter) speech sounds. Why do we assume that for a primate to be able to speak, it needs to be able to produce ‘HUMAN’ speech sound? They might just be able to use what they have (primate sounds) into a sophisticated system to express their feelings and emotions. If primates had the cognitive and mental ability for language and rational thought, this would also enable them to utilize whatever sounds they have into a suitable form of language for them. The answer to this linguistic difference between humans and primates doesn’t lie in the way their vocal apparatus is made but rather on their genetic and cognitive abilities. A recent study in FOXP2 is identifying one such language gene.

But, earlier on I was wondering if somebody every tried to raise a primate with their human children. There have been attempts to teach them language/signs in universities and labs but how about a realistic language learning environment in a society? What the Great Ape Trust is doing is very similar but not exactly like raising a human child. I’ll have to check with my wife to see if we could bring in a chimp along with the next family expansion! Also, are there any ethical questions? I hope I won’t be violating an ape’s rights by raising him in an alien human environment, but I guess it would be a little better than growing up in a cage!

Abid Qazi © 2011