Vocal communication in gibbons

Clarke, E.; Zuberbühler, K.; Reichard, U.H.; Cartmill, E.A.; Roberts, S.; Lyn, H.; Cornish, H.

Abstract

Many non-human primates use vocal communication referentially and also use simple syntax and grammar. However, their comparative vocal repertoires are disappointingly sparse, with many researchers concluding that they have fixed vocal patterns made up of a limited number of discrete units used in a relatively small array of contexts (see McComb & Semple, 2005 for a review). Furthermore, these vocal patterns seem to be innate, under high genetic control with little evidence for vocal learning – something that humans are masters at (Janik & Slater 1997). This leaves us with some questions. Firstly, how did humans become so adept at producing and learning vocal sounds? And, secondly, are there any extant primate species with vocal behaviours that can be directly compared to our own?…

Citation

Clarke, E., Zuberbühler, K., Reichard, U., Cartmill, E., Roberts, S., Lyn, H., & Cornish, H. (2014, April). Vocal communication in gibbons. Presented at 10th International Conference on the Evolution of Language (EVOLANG10), Vienna, Austria

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: 10th International Conference on the Evolution of Language (EVOLANG10)
• Start Date: Apr 14, 2014
• End Date: Apr 17, 2014
• Online Publication Date: May 31, 2014
• Publication Date: May 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Apr 13, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 12, 2016
• Publisher: World Scientific Publishing
• Pages: 413-414
• Book Title: The evolution of language : proceedings of the 10th International Conference (EVOLANG10), Vienna, Austria, 14-17 April 2014.
• ISBN: 9789814603621
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814603638_0070
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1152510