时差N小时 人类语言的起源(上)（在线收听）

Scientists have searched for the origins of human speech in the hoots, grunts, and other vocalizations made by primates.

科学家一直通过研究灵长类动物发出的叫声、呼噜声以及其他声音来寻找人类语言的起源。

It would seem to make sense, after all, that such sounds may be related to the more varied and articulated sounds we humans make.

这似乎也讲得通，毕竟这些声音与人类发出的更加多样、清晰的声音有关。

But there are significant differences.

其实，两者之间的区别很大。

For example, human speech is learned, made using controlled and rapid movements of the tongue, lips, and jaw.

例如，人类语言为后天习得，通过控制舌头、嘴唇和下颚间的快速运动来发声。

Primatevocalizations, on the other hand, are not learned but innate.

而灵长类动物的发音不是习得而是先天性的。

So some researchers are now considering the hypothesis that human speech evolved not from primate sounds but more from monkey facial gestures.

因此，一些研究人员认为：人类语言并非由灵长类动物的声音进化而来，而是从猴子的面部表情进化成来。

Specifically, scientists are interested in how monkeys smack their lips to communicate.

具体而言，科学家对猴子如何通过唇动交流尤其感兴趣。

Using x ray movies, researchers at Princeton and the University of Vienna have found that primate lip smacking is much more complex than it appears.

通过使用X射线视频，美国普林斯顿大学和奥地利维也纳大学的研究人员发现，灵长类动物的唇动比看起来要复杂的多。