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The evolution of coordinated vocalizations before language

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2014

Gregory A. Bryant*
Affiliation:
Department of Communication, Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563. gabryant@ucla.eduhttp://gabryant.bol.ucla.edu/

Abstract

Ackermann et al. briefly point out the potential significance of coordinated vocal behavior in the dual pathway model of acoustic communication. Rhythmically entrained and articulated pre-linguistic vocal activity in early hominins might have set the evolutionary stage for later refinements that manifest in modern humans as language-based conversational turn-taking, joint music-making, and other behaviors associated with prosociality.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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