Speech-like vocalized lip-smacking in geladas

current-biology ^ | 8 April 2013 | Thore J. Bergman

[JoeProBono]

Recently, we have seen a surge of interest in identifying possible evolutionary links between primate facial communication and human speech (for example [1]).

One suggestion is that primate ‘lip-smacking’ — a non-vocal, rhythmic movement of lips usually given in conjunction with affiliative behavior — may have been a precursor to speech [1].

This idea arose because lip-smacking shares several production features with human speech that the vocalizations of non-human primates lack, most notably a 3–8 Hz rhythm [1].

Evidence that non-human primates are indeed able to vocalize while simultaneously producing rhythmic facial movements would lend initial, but important, support to the notion that lip-smacking is a plausible evolutionary step towards speech.

Here, I report that a wild primate, the gelada (Theropithecus gelada), makes a derived vocalization (the vocalization is absent in their close relatives, the Papio baboons) that is produced while lip-smacking, called a ‘wobble’.

The rhythm of wobbles (6–9 Hz) closely matches that of human speech, indicating that a vocalized lip-smack produces sounds that are structurally similar to speech.

Geladas are highly gregarious primates with a relatively large vocal repertoire.

Their independent evolution of a speech-like vocalization involving complex facial movements provides initial support for the hypothesis that lip-smacking was a precursor to the emergence of human speech.

[JoeProBono]

/Gelada_baboon_Kimberly_Simpson.jpg

[raybbr]

George Carlin talked all about “bi-labial fricative” years ago. This is nothing new.

[Tax-chick]

Democrats.

[JoeProBono]

[Red Badger]

IZZAT like ‘Larks Tongues in Aspic’?........

[Red Badger]

That’s ‘lip smacking good’!!!!!.............

[Red Badger]

Izzat Kimberly Simpson?......

[Thane_Banquo]

It's a trap!

[JoeProBono]

[PowderMonkey]

"So, this gorilla walks into a bar and orders a beer..."

[JoeProBono]

[PowderMonkey]

"The bartender sets one up for him, and charges him $20. The gorilla sits there quietly sipping his beer. After a while, the bartender says, 'ya' know we don't get many gorillas in here.' The gorilla looks at him and says, 'at $20 a beer, I'm not surprised.'

BA-DUMM-TISH!

Hey! What is this an audience or an oil painting?

Thank you! I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip the waitress. Try the fried bananas!"

[JoeProBono]

[blueunicorn6]

The gelada leaders also smack their lips while farting which proves that politicians are descended from apes or maybe farts.

[JoeProBono]

[BenLurkin]

Shoot them.

[JoeProBono]

[PowderMonkey]

[BenLurkin]

Needs a bulls eye on it, with the ten ring right over its nasty looking chest.

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks JoeProBono. Missing Link Between Humans And Monkeys Found Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.