Lemur Vocal Communication and the Origin of Human Language

Abstract

To shed light on the evolution ofhuman language,many studies have been made on the vocal communication ofnonhuman primates. These studies have revealed that some rudimentary properties ofhuman language can be seen in nonhuman primate vocal communication. In particular,much knowledge about the natural vocal communication ofprimates has accumulated since the method ofplayback experiments was established. For example,referential signaling (Zuberbuhler et al. 1999),categorical perception ofvocalization (Masataka 1983),acousticrules" regu闢 lating vocal exchange (Sugiura 1993),and flexibility ofvocal production (Sugiura 1998) have been found in some primate species in natural habitats. However,most ofthese studies have been conducted on the anthropoid primates. There have been relatively few studies on vocal communication in prosimians, including the Ie嘲 murs of Madagascar,which are indigenous to the island and have evolved sepa- rately. Because oftheir uniqueness,the lemurs are important species as subjects for comparative studies ofprimate vocal communication.