Scientists from France and the United States have discovered that Guinean baboons (Papio papio) use vowel sounds similar to human vowels. From this it follows that the basic elements of spoken language, common to highly developed primates, arose about 25 million years ago. The corresponding study was published in the journal PLoS ONE, briefly reported by Science News.
Most of all, the sounds produced by Papio papio, recorded by specialists, resemble human sounds [y], [o], [e], [a] and [y]. The similarity of sounds in Guinean baboons and humans, according to scientists, indicates the common origin of ancient signal systems.
The vocalization, as established by experts, is influenced not by the shape of the larynx of primates, but by the structure of their language. In Guinean baboons and humans, the shape and proportions of the muscles of the unpaired outgrowth of the floor of the mouth are similar to each other.
According to an alternative point of view, human speech appeared about 70-100 thousand years ago, which is associated with the evolution of the larynx. New research shows that, in addition to Homo sapiens, at least Papio papio have the necessary anatomical capabilities for vocalization, and the first beginnings of speech emerged about 25 million years ago, when baboons and humans shared a common ancestor.