Language Origins

Human language is a complex phenomenon with several levels of organization. Baboon analogies suggest the possibility that components of human language evolved more or less separately from each other in early hominins or their evolutionary predecessors. Some were selected to support nonlinguistic communication while others originally performed noncommunicative functions. As with other kinds of behavior, the obvious basis for comparison with baboons is to study the form and function of the behaviors and connect them with relevant morphological structures (including neurological structures). A complementary approach is to infer relevant cognitive patterns from baboon behavior that may not be expressed in their communication systems, but represent potential components of language. Experiments show that baboons can learn communication elements that resemble some constituents of human language. These include production of vowel sounds, intentionality, mutual coordination of attention, and a learning bias toward connected patterns. Some leading researchers agree that similarities between baboons and humans are homologies that derive from the common ancestor of monkeys and apes. A competing hypothesis, emphasized in this book, is that most analogies between hominins and baboons are the result of convergent evolution in similar ecological and social circumstances.