Understanding Language Evolution: Beyond Pan‐Centrism. (29th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lameira, Adriano R.; Call, Josep
• Is Part Of: BioEssays. Volume 42:Number 3(2020:Mar.)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-01-29
• Subjects: chimpanzees -- cognition -- communication -- great apes -- language evolution; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900102
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-9247

Abstract

Abstract: Language does not fossilize but this does not mean that the language's evolutionary timeline is lost forever. Great apes provide a window back in time on our last prelinguistic ancestor's communication and cognition. Phylogeny and cladistics implicitly conjure Pan (chimpanzees, bonobos) as a superior (often the only) model for language evolution compared with earlier diverging lineages, Gorilla and Pongo (orangutans). Here, in reviewing the literature, it is shown that Pan do not surpass other great apes along genetic, cognitive, ecologic, or vocal traits that are putatively paramount for language onset and evolution. Instead, revived herein is the idea that only by abandoning single‐species models and learning about the variation among great apes, there might be a chance to retrieve lost fragments of the evolutionary timeline of language. Abstract : Language does not fossilize. Great apes complement the picture of our last pre‐linguistic ancestor's communication and cognition. Chimpanzees and bonobos, our closest relatives, are typically seen as better suited models for comparative approaches to language evolution. Different research strands show this is not the case. Each and every great ape species has interlocking pieces of the puzzle of language evolution.