Anthony Cerrato  wrote in news:bumqcv$1n85$1
{at}darwin.ediacara.org:

> 
> "Robert Karl Stonjek"  wrote in
> message news:bukvpo$166b$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org...

>> But Hauser says the top number of words they have learned
> is in the
>> 300-to-400 range, which doesn't even compare to the
> 60,000-word vocabulary
>> of a typical high school graduate.
>>
>> Apes "have learned signs that refer to things in their
> world, like food and
>> actions," Hauser says. "They could label things and could
> sign 'apple' or
>> 'pond.' But what they couldn't say is, 'My apple is in the
> pond' or 'on the
>> chair.' "

> 
> Hmm...also very interesting. But doesn't the fact that the
> differences in vocal apparatuses in, say, man vs. monkey,
> limits monkey speech capability, play a significant part in
> capacity for both word memory and grammer rules? IOW, if
> you're not able to use it, you lose it?

 
> Seems to me, that it the limited vocal capacity in animals
> is the main reason their brains never evolved to the level
> of
> organizational complexity which would make them efficiently
> utilize a large number of words and grammer rules.
 

Seals have good vocal capacity but don't utilize grammar. Parrots have 
excellent vocal capacity but don't utilize grammar. Both of those animals 
have need of conscious breath control, and the vocal capacity is probably 
a side effect. The vocal capacity in humans is most likely a result of 
grammar, not a cause of it.

Yours,

Bill Morse
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