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Subject:
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Neanderthal communication
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Question:
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Hello!
I've been trying to find information on Neanderthal speech/language/communication but it's hard to tell whether the search results I got are reliable or not. Is there any kind of agreement on this matter? I mean, if they had a fully developed vocal tract as some seem to believe, did this allow them to produce articulate sounds? It is clear that the evidence on this is scant and this is what I would like to know:
1. Could Neanderthals build communication amongst them (could they speak at all)?
2. Did they use sounds to communicate?
3. Did they use any kind of articulate sounds?
4. Did they use gestures?
5. What sources of information can you recommend for further reading?
I'd really appreciate any information you can provide. By the way, this is just something I'm interested in because I'm reading a novel where Neanderthals speak and it aroused my curiosity.
Thanks!
Brian
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Reply:
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It really is hard to say because we cannot observe living Neaderthals. All the evidence we can collect is based on anatomy and archaeology - which isn't that much.
On the one hand, it's clear that the oral tract of Neanderthals is different than that of homo sapiens, but you cannot rule out that they had an alternate phonological system.
The use of ochre in burials and of some tools suggests a certain cognitive sophistication, yet DNA evidence suggests that Neanderthals and homo sapiens diverged a while ago (before homo sapiens left Africa). It's not easy to compare.
I think it's reasonable to assume that there was a communication system, but difficult to discern what the details would have been. I think the references that Dr Cruz-Ferreira are good ones, but beyond that I would recommend learning about linguistics than listening and reading about the latest updates as we do.
Hope this helps.
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Reply From:
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Elizabeth J Pyatt
click here to access email
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| Date: |
Sep-30-2009
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Other Replies:
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Re: Neanderthal communication
Madalena Cruz-Ferreira
(Sep-30-2009)
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Re: Neanderthal communication
James L Fidelholtz
(Sep-30-2009)
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