Evolution of Language: Neanderthal Speech One clue to the evolution of speech is the descent of the larynx which allows for the articulatory control of air.

Arch of Cranial Base: Indicates descended larynx Earliest hominins (Australopiths) had cranial base similar to apes Cranial base approximates human angle in Kabwe and Steinheim skulls (around 300,000 ybp) Neanderthal cranium actually flatter than some older samples.

Hominin Evolutionary Chronology 5-7 mybp: split between chimp and hominin lines 5-4 mybp: emergence of earliest hominins – australopiths 2.5-2 mybp: emergence of genus Homo (first major brain size expansion 1.8 mybp: emergence of Homo erectus/ergaster (first evidence of human-like traits) .5 mypb: emergence of Homo heidelbergensis (first of the archaic Homo sapiens; second major expansion in brain size 200,000 ybp: emergence of Homo sapiens, Neanderthals 35,000 ypb Upper Paleolithic revolution

Animal Language: Vervet Alarm Calls Different alarm calls appear to be referential

Washoe Koko Nim Chimpsky Ape Language Studies Washoe Koko Nim Chimpsky Fouts/Gardners Francine Patterson Herb Terrace

Kanzi: The talking Bonobo Sue Savage-Rumbaugh Lexigram symbol language Simple syntax Spontaneous acquisition Referential/symbolic understanding 90% utterances: requests/commands

Derek Bickerton: Catastrophic Evolution Two steps: protolanguage – associated with increasing brain size Full language – associated with cultural revolution in UP