Very little is ever written (or researched) regarding hand
communication vs. verbal communication, especially as it
might apply to early forms of communication. The contention
is made that chimps communicate by hand gestures (an
argument I do not buy).

Any thoughts on this interesting area of research?

Jerry

Very little is ever written (or researched) regarding hand
communication vs. verbal communication, especially as it
might apply to early forms of communication. The contention
is made that chimps communicate by hand gestures (an
argument I do not buy).

Any thoughts on this interesting area of research?

Jerry

On May 15, 4:55 am, jerry warner <"warne(ns)" at (no spam) mchsi.com> wrote:
Very little is ever written (or researched) regarding hand
communication vs. verbal communication, especially as it
might apply to early forms of communication. The contention
is made that chimps communicate by hand gestures (an
argument I do not buy).

Any thoughts on this interesting area of research?

Jerry

Hand communication does not work as good as verbal. Vocalization goes
to a greater distance and you don't need to be looking at the
individual to get the message.

Look at Pepperberg's parrot, Alex.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepperberg

Alex had syntax. You could hold up a green ball and Alex would
identify it's color and shape.

Alex had syntax. Humans have syntax.

The studies of gorillas like Koko are like "facilitated
communication", the bogus way to communicate with autistic people.

They claim the other primates don't have the right vocal
apparatus to communicate verbally. Bull. Look at gibbons and tarsiers.

Vocalization is the key that opens a species up to language.
And the trigger for that key is male courtship vocalization. Chimps
don't court. They don't need to because the females go into heat and
mate with anybody.

Eve was the first human because she lost estrus. She could
ovulate without going into heat. Any male that wanted to mate with her
needed to court her.

That is where human language started.

Vocalization begat language.

It isn't rocket science. Sex drives the organism.

On May 15, 4:55 am, jerry warner <"warne(ns)" at (no spam) mchsi.com> wrote:
Very little is ever written (or researched) regarding hand
communication vs. verbal communication, especially as it
might apply to early forms of communication. The contention
is made that chimps communicate by hand gestures (an
argument I do not buy).

Any thoughts on this interesting area of research?

Jerry

There has indeed been considerable research on sign languages, both
languages of the deaf and systems practiced by some Plains Indian
tribes (where individuals could be seen at a greater distances than
voices normally carry). Signing occurs in three-dimensional space and
so is able to do many things, especially in narrative modes, that the
one-dimensional stream of sounds (oral language) finds awkward or
difficult. Besides, hearing human beings and many primates use
gestures and body attitudes for communication.
Nevertheless, I see no reason to believe that signs preceded speech,
since most mammals, reptiles, and birds communicate vocally.

Very little is ever written (or researched) regarding hand
communication vs. verbal communication, especially as it
might apply to early forms of communication. The contention
is made that chimps communicate by hand gestures (an
argument I do not buy).

Any thoughts on this interesting area of research?

Jerry

"caldervang... at (no spam) gmail.com" wrote:
On May 15, 4:55 am, jerry warner <"warne(ns)" at (no spam) mchsi.com> wrote:
Very little is ever written (or researched) regarding hand
communication vs. verbal communication, especially as it
might apply to early forms of communication. The contention
is made that chimps communicate by hand gestures (an
argument I do not buy).

Any thoughts on this interesting area of research?

Jerry

I have heard it said (but do not have a ref) that humans are the only
creatures that point with their fingers.  This perhaps promotes the
naming of nouns.
regards
calder

Thats a good question. Except a chimp will jump up and down
and wave arms saying 'me me me!' to draw others to pay
attention.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

On May 17, 2:32 am, jerry warner <jwarn... at (no spam) mchsi.com> wrote:
"caldervang... at (no spam) gmail.com" wrote:
On May 15, 4:55 am, jerry warner <"warne(ns)" at (no spam) mchsi.com> wrote:
Very little is ever written (or researched) regarding hand
communication vs. verbal communication, especially as it
might apply to early forms of communication. The contention
is made that chimps communicate by hand gestures (an
argument I do not buy).

Any thoughts on this interesting area of research?

Jerry

I have heard it said (but do not have a ref) that humans are the only
creatures that point with their fingers. This perhaps promotes the
naming of nouns.
regards
calder

Thats a good question. Except a chimp will jump up and down
and wave arms saying 'me me me!' to draw others to pay
attention.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

True. But human infants and toddlers will point to an object, the
adult will name it, and the child will repeat the word. This ability
is not known to exist in other species. I have noticed that children
most often point to the other humans in their environment before
moving on to various objects. That is, we start out as quite social
beings. We want to know other people by name.

In the case of the written word, signals in the brain pass through
Broca's and Wernineke's areas before going to the motor area. So
writing is only an extension of the existing language.

Gesture has been studied by some researchers, ie, how different
cultures in the world interpret various and/or similar gestures. Jane
Goodall has studied the Gombi chimps... their vocalizations and their
gestures.

I personally think that gesture and language in humans developed
concurrently. Neither was a direct result of the other, but there is
a relationship between the two.

regards
calder

On May 15, 4:55 am, jerry warner <"warne(ns)" at (no spam) mchsi.com> wrote:
Very little is ever written (or researched) regarding hand
communication vs. verbal communication, especially as it
might apply to early forms of communication. The contention
is made that chimps communicate by hand gestures (an
argument I do not buy).

Any thoughts on this interesting area of research?

Jerry

I have heard it said (but do not have a ref) that humans are the only
creatures that point with their fingers. This perhaps promotes the
naming of nouns.

Connie wrote:
On May 15, 4:55 am, jerry warner <"warne(ns)" at (no spam) mchsi.com> wrote:
Very little is ever written (or researched) regarding hand
communication vs. verbal communication, especially as it
might apply to early forms of communication. The contention
is made that chimps communicate by hand gestures (an
argument I do not buy).

Any thoughts on this interesting area of research?

Jerry

There has indeed been considerable research on sign languages, both
languages of the deaf and systems practiced by some Plains Indian
tribes (where individuals could be seen at a greater distances than
voices normally carry). Signing occurs in three-dimensional space and
so is able to do many things, especially in narrative modes, that the
one-dimensional stream of sounds (oral language) finds awkward or
difficult. Besides, hearing human beings and many primates use
gestures and body attitudes for communication.
Nevertheless, I see no reason to believe that signs preceded speech,
since most mammals, reptiles, and birds communicate vocally.

Interesting. Thanks.