Re: human/chimp oral differences

From: Gerry Reinhart-Waller
Message: 1511
Date: 2000-02-16

Marc Verhaegen wrote:
>
> >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
>

And Marc, why will chimps never be able to speak a Nostratic language?
Is it because of their hard wiring or because they don't have a template
imbedded in their brain? IOW, are you pro or anti Chomsky?

Gerry
2/15/00
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Gerald Reinhart
Independent Scholar
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