Re: human/chimp oral differences

>Marc Verhaegen wrote:

>> >> >Glen, could you possibly explain what the problem is with the tongue

and vocal cords of chimps?

>> >> Nothing! In fact they're quite tasty with a little wine sauce,

simmered over a low heat. But putting high-brow cuisine aside (or should I
say tongue-and-cheek cuisine), they simply don't have the ability to speak
like us because of their anatomy. That's probably all that's keeping chimps
from fully replacing the workers at AT&T. :) - gLeN

>> >Er, Glen, I thought you had said that the anatomy of chimp and human

was similar regarding tongue and vocal cords. Or are you saying that the
anatomy is different? But my question is: is the difference great enough
to prevent the chimp from speaking? Gerry 2/13/99

>> Gerry, there are a lot of differences in oral anatomy between humans &

chimps, eg, humans have everted lips, a smaller mouth, less prognathism, a
highly vaulted palate, a smooth palate vault, a round tongue, a descended os
hyoid & larynx. Moreover, the cerebral control in humans is about twice that
in chimps (area 4) and the coordination of area 4 by the prefrontal areas is
much better developed in humans (eg, area 44 or Broca). Yes, these
differences are great enough to prevent them from speaking. Marc

>Thanks Marc. That's the explanation I was looking for. And it was so

succinctly worded as well. So although chimps can be taught wrote tasks,
the chimp will never speak a "Nostratic" language. Correct? Gerry
2/14/00

Correct.

Marc