Open AccessA Biolinguistic Approach to the Vocalizations of H. Neanderthalensis and the Genus Homo
Author(s) -
Llu s Barceló-Coblijn
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
biolinguistics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1450-3417
DOI - 10.5964/bioling.8863
Subject(s) - homo sapiens , perspective (graphical) , neurocognitive , comparative psychology , cognitive science , psychology , cognitive psychology , neuropsychology , punctuated equilibrium , fossil record , cognition , linguistics , epistemology , evolutionary biology , philosophy , sociology , biology , anthropology , computer science , ecology , neuroscience , artificial intelligence
This paper revisits the old question about the possibilities and aptitudes H. neanderthalensis had for vocalization. New evidence will be discussed that moves the discussion beyond traditional interest in the presence and inter-pretation of the fossil record and its comparison with the closest species to H. sapiens, like chimpanzees and gorillas. An interdisciplinary perspective on the analysis coupled with information gathered from neuropsychology, genetics, and comparative psychology will prove useful for obtaining a new vision in biolinguistics, so that neurocognitive activity becomes important thanks, above all, to the comparison with other species. Finally, it will be argued that it is still plausible to accept the hypothesis on the formation of a vocal capacity prior to the cognitive faculty of language, and independent of it, so that Neandertals were probably able of vocalizing voluntarily, with communicative intentions and in a sophisticated way.