The vocal tract of macaques is capable of producing human-like speech, a new study has shown. Unfortunately, monkeys lack intelligence to make words appear. Perhaps this is for the best - speech simulation of macaques is scary as hell.
For four decades, scientists have believed that the inability of nonhuman primates to produce human speech sounds was due to anatomical restrictions in their vocal tracts. Autopsies have shown that monkeys have a very limited vocal range compared to humans.
New research suggests that this view is flawed and that at least one species (macaque) has vocal anatomy suitable for the production of intelligible speech. The inability to produce human sounds is due to the limited intelligence of the monkey, the researchers believe.
To prove this, neuroscientists examined the range of motion that the vocal organs of the macaque produce. The researchers used X-ray videos to capture and track movements of various organs, including the tongue, lips and larynx, while the test monkey made various sounds and moved parts of the face. The scientists applied this data to a computer model capable of predicting and then simulating the vocal range of a monkey.
The results showed that macaque speech would not sound exactly like human speech, but it would be intelligible to our ears. In the example below, "macaque" in English says: "Will you marry me?"
And here, for comparison, a simulation of human speech.
The speaking ability of primates can be used to understand the formation of early human speech and its evolution.
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