Source: Phys.org
Date 1/09/15
URL: http://phys.org/news/2015-01-orangutans-consonants-vowels-evolution-human.html
Summary: For a long time it has been a mystery how humans evolved the capacity for the complex languages we have today but recent studies in orangutans have shed light on how this occurred. Ever since darwin first proposed his theory of evolution the origin of language in humans has been a question asked by critics of his theory. And now after all these years we have a parallel in the great apes, the orangutans. Research has shown the orangutans ability to create new calls displaying similarities to human consonants and vowels. These calls were produced by rapidly opening and closing of the lips, much like humans do. Prior to this discovery the ridged use of calls amongst the great apes was a huge roadblock to understanding the origin of human language. Their apparent lack of a capacity to modify of learn new calls stood in stark contrast to humans, causing us to wonder about the origin of our complex languages. However this new finding allows us to see similarities between humans and great apes.
Relevance: In this chapter we are learning about Darwin's theory of evolution, the selection of beneficial traits through natural selection of random mutations. This article talks about the evolution of the capacity to learn complex languages in humans. We already know that we evolved from great apes but the lack an early form of a this capacity and the rigidity of most great apes calls was odd given the complex languages we have evolved to be able to use. But the appearance of this trait in orangutans shows that it is possible for it to arise through natural selection showing how it is possible for us to have evolved our languages from great apes.
Do these calls seem to have any meaning to the apes, like a language of sorts? Do they repeat these calls to each other and/or during a specific action?
ReplyDeleteIt is likely that they have meaning although the article dose not specify.
DeleteWhen humans developed this ability, how did it benefit them? Could the apes reap the same benefits if through natural selection the ability became more common?
ReplyDeleteHumans benefited the ability to express more complex and original thoughts and it is very possible for apes to reap the same benefits if this is selected as it will break the rigidity of their previous calls.
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