Robert Seyfarth: Can Monkeys Talk?
Robert Seyfarth describes how monkey calls used by Vervet Monkeys might be precursors to language. To read more about language in monkeys (and chimps), see the NY Times article: "Deciphering...
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One of the other things that we're interested in about these monkeys and apes are their vocalizations. Because of vocal- if we really go in with the idea that we evolved from something like the common ancestor of us and these creatures, then maybe we can find some hints of our language in their vocal communication. In the mid-1960s there was a very intersting discovery made; at the time, people thought that, uhm, whenever a monkey gave a vocalization it was just sort of an involuntary cry, like, "Ah!" you shout as you pull your hand back from the hot stove, or as you're surprised as someone jumps out at you. And they don't usually use words- sounds the way we use words, as voluntary signals that designate some feature of the envi...
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One of the other things that we're interested in about these monkeys and apes are their vocalizations. Because of vocal- if we really go in with the idea that we evolved from something like the common ancestor of us and these creatures, then maybe we can find some hints of our language in their vocal communication. In the mid-1960s there was a very intersting discovery made; at the time, people thought that, uhm, whenever a monkey gave a vocalization it was just sort of an involuntary cry, like, "Ah!" you shout as you pull your hand back from the hot stove, or as you're surprised as someone jumps out at you. And they don't usually use words- sounds the way we use words, as voluntary signals that designate some feature of the envi...
