Speech evolved from vocalization, not mastication

Journal/Book: Behav Brain Sci. 1998; 21: 40 West 20TH Street, New York, NY 10011-4211. Cambridge Univ Press. 519-520.

Abstract: The segmentation of phonation by articulation is a characteristic feature of speech that distinguishes it from most nonhuman vocalizations. However, apart from the trivial fact that speech uses some of the same muscles and, hence the same motoneurons and motorcortical areas used in chewing, there is no convincing evidence that syllable segmentation relies on the same pattern generator as mastication. Evidence for a differential cortical representation of syllable segmentation (''frame'') and syllable ''content'' is also meager.

Note: Editorial Jurgens U, German Primate Ctr, Kellnerweg 4, D-37077 Gottingen, GERMANY

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