(单词翻译:单击)
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 。
译文为可可英语翻译,未经授权请勿转载!