New study suggests that Neanderthals probably had a form of language similar to ours, but less structurally complex and flexible.
Linguist Antonio Benítez-Burraco from the University of Seville conducted a multidisciplinary analysis, combining anatomical, sociocultural, cognitive, environmental and genetic evidence to reach this conclusion.
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The study reveals that Neanderthals had a vocal tract similar to that of modern humans, allowing them to produce similar sounds. Their hearing capabilities were also comparable.
However, the shape of the Neanderthal cranial cavity suggests that their brains were less “globular” than ours, which possibly affected their ability to language processing.
It is speculated that they may have a reduced capacity for intermodal thinking, limiting their ability to create complex linguistic structures.
The Neanderthals, or Homo neanderthalensiswere an extinct species of hominids that inhabited Europe and parts of Asia during the Middle Paleolithic Period, between about 400,000 and 40,000 years ago.
The simplicity of the species’ tools and lack of cultural adaptation over time indicate a possible inability to engage in hierarchical thinking and innovate due to limited memory resources. work.
Benítez-Burraco suggests that Neanderthal languages may have had a less complex syntax, with fewer functional categories and less distinct sounds. He also proposes that their languages may have had difficulty conveying sophisticated meanings.
Regarding sound, environmental factors such as cold and dry conditions may have influenced speech, leading to a rich use of consonants. However, the study acknowledges that this is a speculative representation of language neanderthal.
Ultimately, without a time machine, it’s unlikely we’ll ever know exactly how Neanderthals spoke.
The study’s author acknowledges the limitations of the research, but highlights potential differences in their linguistic capabilities compared to modern humans.
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