Several attempts have been made to reconstruct the vocal tract of Homo
neanderthalensis, that is, tongue, mouth cavity, pharynx (throat), and larynx. On the
basis of some early reconstructions – which have been heavily criticized as wrong – it
was first concluded that a human vocal did not fit into the skull of a Neanderthals,
who therefore had to be unable to speak. Among other things, it was believed that
modern humans have a significantly lowered larynx (of which the Adam's apple is a
part), which was believed to be a necessary prerequisite for speech. This allegedly
lowered larynx was even regarded as a human evolutionary adaption to language.
Later it has been shown that the lowered larynx is found in adult males only, and not
in children and adult females – who nevertheless have the same ability to speak. The
lowered larynx seems to be an evolutionary specialization of males after puberty, and
its main function is to give the males a darker voice that frightens potential attackers
and competitors.
Several attempts have been made to reconstruct the vocal tract of Homo
neanderthalensis, that is, tongue, mouth cavity, pharynx (throat), and larynx. On the
basis of some early reconstructions – which have been heavily criticized as wrong – it
was first concluded that a human vocal did not fit into the skull of a Neanderthals,
who therefore had to be unable to speak. Among other things, it was believed that
modern humans have a significantly lowered larynx (of which the Adam's apple is a
part), which was believed to be a necessary prerequisite for speech. This allegedly
lowered larynx was even regarded as a human evolutionary adaption to language.
Later it has been shown that the lowered larynx is found in adult males only, and not
in children and adult females – who nevertheless have the same ability to speak. The
lowered larynx seems to be an evolutionary specialization of males after puberty, and
its main function is to give the males a darker voice that frightens potential attackers
and competitors.
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