Human Language Evolution Points to Primate Gestures

Abstract

The past century in particular has been concerned with the trajectory of human vocalizations and verbal lan- guage within an evolutionary framework. Gestural hypotheses, although immensely diverse, are only one sub- set of this expansive network of understandings and assertions. Gestural hypothesis revolves around the idea that human vocalizations are standard forms of communication derived from ape’s physical gestures. While there is often overlap between gestural theories, researcher specialization within the theory has historically served to be more divisive than integrative. Our aim is to consolidate the multiple dimensions of the manual modality’s relevance for the development of human verbal language. This will propel the theory into its stron- gest form, in which multiple versions share a common space, to better elucidate the origins of human language.