為什么猿類不會(huì)說話?

Why Can’t Apes Talk?

2023-09-07 后羿A射日 4100 22 1 收藏糾錯(cuò)&舉報(bào)

譯文簡介

為什么猿類不會(huì)說話?

正文翻譯

We all know that parrots can talk. Some people may have even seen elephants, seals, or whales mimicking speech sounds. So why can’t our closest primate relatives speak like us? Our new research suggests they have the right vocal anatomy but not the brainpower to use it.

我們都知道鸚鵡會(huì)說話。有些人甚至見過大象、海豹或鯨魚模仿人類聲音。那么為什么我們的靈長類近親不能像我們一樣說話呢?我們的新研究表明，他們擁有解剖學(xué)上的發(fā)聲器官，但是卻沒有使用這些發(fā)聲器官的腦力。

Scientists have been interested in understanding this phenomenon for centuries. Some have argued that nonhuman primates didn’t have the right-shaped body parts to make the same sounds as we do, and that human speech evolved after our speech organs changed. But comparative studies have shown that the form and function of the larynx and vocal tract is very similar across most primate species, including humans.

幾個(gè)世紀(jì)以來，科學(xué)家們一直對(duì)這一現(xiàn)象很感興趣。有些人認(rèn)為，非人類靈長類動(dòng)物沒有人類這樣合適的身體部位來發(fā)聲，而且人類的語言是在我們的語言器官改變后進(jìn)化的。但是比較研究表明，包括人類在內(nèi)的大多數(shù)靈長類動(dòng)物的喉和聲道的形式和功能非常相似。

This suggests that the primate vocal tract is “speech ready” but that most species don’t have the neural control to make the complex sounds that comprise human speech. When reviewing the evidence in 1871, Charles Darwin wrote, “the brain has no doubt been far more important.”

這意味著靈長類動(dòng)物的聲道已經(jīng)“準(zhǔn)備好說話了”，但大多數(shù)靈長類動(dòng)物沒有神經(jīng)控制來發(fā)出構(gòu)成人類語言的復(fù)雜聲音。查爾斯·達(dá)爾文在1871年回顧這些證據(jù)時(shí)寫道:“毫無疑問，大腦的作用要重要得多。”

Along with Jeroen Smaers from Stony Brook University in New York, I have been investigating the relationship between the number of different calls that each primate species can make and the architecture of their brains. For example, Golden pottos have only ever been recorded using two different sounds, while chimpanzees and bonobos use around 40.

我和紐約州立大學(xué)石溪分校的羅恩·斯邁爾共同研究了每種靈長類動(dòng)物能夠發(fā)出的不同叫聲的數(shù)量與它們大腦結(jié)構(gòu)之間的關(guān)系。舉個(gè)例子，我們只記錄到金熊猴使用了兩種不同的聲音，而黑猩猩和倭黑猩猩可以使用大約40種聲音。

Our recent study, published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, focused on two particular features of the brain. These were the cortical association areas that govern voluntary control over behavior, and the brainstem nuclei that are involved in the neural control of muscles responsible for vocal production. Cortical association areas are found within the neocortex and are key to the higher-order brain functions considered to be the foundation for the complex behavior of primates.

我們最近發(fā)表在《神經(jīng)科學(xué)前沿》雜志上的論文重點(diǎn)研究了大腦的兩個(gè)特殊特征。包括：控制行為自主控制的皮層聯(lián)絡(luò)區(qū)，以及負(fù)責(zé)發(fā)聲的肌肉的神經(jīng)控制的腦干核團(tuán)。皮層聯(lián)絡(luò)區(qū)位于新大腦皮層，是大腦高階認(rèn)知的關(guān)鍵，是靈長類動(dòng)物復(fù)雜行為的基礎(chǔ)。

The results indicate a positive correlation between the relative size of the cortical association areas and the size of the vocal repertoire of primates. In simple terms, primates with bigger cortical association areas tended to make more sounds. But, interestingly, a primate’s vocal repertoire was not lixed to the overall size of its brain, just the relative size of these specific areas.

研究結(jié)果表明，靈長類動(dòng)物大腦皮層聯(lián)絡(luò)區(qū)的大小與聲波曲目的大小呈正相關(guān)。簡單地說，大腦皮層聯(lián)絡(luò)區(qū)越大的靈長類動(dòng)物往往能發(fā)出更多的聲音。但有趣的是，靈長類動(dòng)物的聲波曲目與大腦的整體大小無關(guān)，而與這些特定區(qū)域的相對(duì)大小有關(guān)。

We also found that apes have particularly large cortical association areas, as well as a bigger hypoglossal nucleus than other primates. The hypoglossal nucleus is associated with the cranial nerve that controls the muscles of the tongue. This suggests that our closest primate relatives may have finer and more voluntary control over their tongues than other primate species.

我們還發(fā)現(xiàn)類人猿的大腦皮層聯(lián)絡(luò)區(qū)異乎尋常的大，舌下核也比其他靈長類動(dòng)物大。舌下核與控制舌頭肌肉的腦神經(jīng)相連。這表明，與其他靈長類物種相比，與我們親緣關(guān)系最近的靈長類物種可能更擅長自主地控制舌頭。

By understanding the nature of the relationship between vocal complexity and brain architecture, we hope to identify some of the key elements that underlie the evolution of complex vocal communication in our ancestors, ultimately leading to speech.

通過研究聲音的復(fù)雜性和大腦結(jié)構(gòu)之間關(guān)系的本質(zhì)，我們希望確定一些關(guān)鍵因素，這些因素是我們祖先利用復(fù)雜的聲音交流并最終進(jìn)化為語言的基礎(chǔ)。

評(píng)論翻譯

EVOLUTION OF SPEECH
The origins of speech is a topic that has long been debated. The Socie?te? de Linguistique de Paris famously banned any further inquiry into the matter in its publication pages in 1866, as it was deemed to be far too unscientific. But much progress has been made in the last few decades thanks to a wide range of evidence, such as that from studies of communication in other species, fossils and, more recently, genetics.

語言的進(jìn)化
語言的起源一直是學(xué)術(shù)界長期爭論的話題。1866年巴黎語言學(xué)會(huì)禁止任何出版物對(duì)這個(gè)問題做進(jìn)一步探究，因?yàn)樗麄冋J(rèn)為這么做很不專業(yè)。但是，多虧了廣泛的證據(jù)，比如對(duì)其他物種交流的研究、對(duì)化石的研究，以及最近對(duì)遺傳學(xué)的研究，過去幾十年這方面的研究取得了巨大突破，。

Research has shown that some primate species, such as vervet monkeys, use “words” to label things (what we would call semantics in human language). Some species even combine calls into simple “sentences” (what we would think of as syntax). This can tell us a lot about the early evolution of language, and the elements of language that might have already been present in our common ancestors with these species some millions of years ago.

研究表明，一些靈長類物種，如長尾猴，可以使用“單詞”來標(biāo)記事物(我們稱之為語義學(xué))。有些靈長類甚至能用聲音組成簡單的“句子”(我們稱之為句法)。這在語言的早期進(jìn)化方面給我們提供了大量信息，也表明數(shù)百萬年前我們和這些靈長類的祖先們就使用這些語言元素了。
原創(chuàng)翻譯：龍騰網(wǎng) http://www.top-shui.cn 轉(zhuǎn)載請(qǐng)注明出處

The fossil record can also provide insight. Speech itself clearly does not fossilize, so researchers have searched for proxy evidence in the skeletal remains of extinct human relatives. For example, some researchers have argued that the position and shape of the hyoid bone (the only bone in the vocal tract) can tell us something about the origins of speech.

化石記錄也提供了更多證據(jù)。語言本身顯然不會(huì)變成化石，所以研究人員只能在已滅絕人類親屬的骨骼殘骸中尋找代理證據(jù)。例如，一些研究人員認(rèn)為舌骨(聲道中唯一的骨頭)的位置和形狀可以為我們提供一些語言起源的信息。

Similarly, others have argued that the diameter of the thoracic canal (which connects the thorax to the nervous system), or the hypoglossal canal (through which the nerves travel to the tongue), can tell us something about breathing, or speech production. And the size and shape of the tiny bones in the middle ear may be able to tell us something about speech perception. But, in general, the fossil record is simply too limited to draw any strong conclusions.

同樣，其他研究人員認(rèn)為胸椎管(連接胸腔和神經(jīng)系統(tǒng))的直徑，或者舌下神經(jīng)管(神經(jīng)通過這個(gè)器官傳遞到舌頭)，可以提供一些關(guān)于呼吸或語言產(chǎn)生的信息。中耳小骨的大小和形狀可能會(huì)給我提供一些關(guān)于語言感知的信息。但是，總的來說，化石記錄太少了，無法得出有力的結(jié)論。

Finally, comparing genetics of humans and other species has provided insight into the origins of speech. One much-discussed gene that seems to be relevant for speech is the FOXP2 gene. If this gene mutates, it leads to difficulties with learning and producing complex mouth movements, and to wide-ranging linguistic deficiencies.

最后，通過對(duì)人類和其他靈長類進(jìn)行遺傳學(xué)比較，我們對(duì)語言的起源就有了更深的了解。人們普遍認(rèn)為FOXP2基因似乎與語言有關(guān)。如果這個(gè)基因發(fā)生突變，就會(huì)導(dǎo)致學(xué)習(xí)困難，而且很難做出復(fù)雜的口型，并導(dǎo)致一連串的語言缺陷。

It was long thought that the DNA sequence changes in the human FOXP2 gene were a unique trait related to our unique ability to use speech. But more-recent studies have shown that these mutations are also present in some extinct human relatives, and the changes in this gene (and, perhaps language itself) may be much more ancient than previously thought.

長期以來，人們一直認(rèn)為人類FOXP2基因的DNA序列變化是與我們獨(dú)特的語言能力相關(guān)的獨(dú)特特征。但最近的研究表明，一些滅絕的人類近親中也存在這種類型的基因突變，而這種基因(或者語言本身)的變化可能比我們之前認(rèn)為的要古老的多。

Technological developments, such as further ancient DNA sequencing of extinct species, and increased knowledge of the neurobiology of language, are certain to provide further giant leaps. But the future of this contentious and complex field will likely depend on large-scale, multidisciplinary collaboration. Comparative studies like ours, comparing traits across a range of species, were the primary tools used by Darwin. No doubt such studies will continue to provide important insights into the evolution of this incredible aspect of our behavior.

技術(shù)的發(fā)展，比如對(duì)滅絕物種的古老DNA測(cè)序的進(jìn)一步研究，以及對(duì)語言神經(jīng)生物學(xué)知識(shí)的進(jìn)一步了解，肯定會(huì)帶來進(jìn)一步的巨大飛躍。但這個(gè)有爭議且復(fù)雜的領(lǐng)域的未來很可能取決于大規(guī)模的、多學(xué)科的合作。像我們這樣比較不同物種特征的比較研究，是達(dá)爾文使用的主要工具。毫無疑問，這些研究將繼續(xù)為我們行為這一不可思議方面的進(jìn)化提供重要的信息。

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