The language void: the need for multimodality in primate communication research

Tools

Slocombe, K.E., Waller, B.M. ORCID: 0000-0001-6303-7458 and Liebal, K., 2011. The language void: the need for multimodality in primate communication research. Animal Behaviour, 81 (5), pp. 919-924. ISSN 0003-3472

Preview

Text
1384190_Waller.pdf - Published version
Download (217kB) | Preview

Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.02.002

Abstract

Theories of language evolution often draw heavily on comparative evidence of the communicative abilities of extant nonhuman primates (primates). Many theories have argued exclusively for a unimodal origin of language, usually gestural or vocal. Theories are often strengthened by research on primates that indicates the absence of certain linguistic precursors in the opposing communicative modality. However, a systematic review of the primate communication literature reveals that vocal, gestural and facial signals have attracted differing theoretical and methodological approaches, rendering cross-modal comparisons problematic. The validity of the theories based on such comparisons can therefore be questioned. We propose that these a priori biases, inherent in unimodal research, highlight the need for integrated multimodal research. By examining communicative signals in concert we can both avoid methodological discontinuities as well as better understand the phylogenetic precursors to human language as part of a multimodal system.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Animal Behaviour

Creators:

Slocombe, K.E., Waller, B.M. and Liebal, K.

Publisher:

Elsevier

Date:

May 2011

Volume:

Number: