人类语音起源和演化研究综述

A Review on the Origin and Evolution of Human Speech

本文详细梳理了从发音器官生理演化的角度探讨人类语音起源和演化的相关理论和最新研究进展。从早期Lieberman提出的喉头下降理论,到最近不少研究者对喉头下降理论提出的挑战,以及Lieberman对这些质疑的回应。本文对争论中的重要问题进行了介绍,主要包括其他哺乳动物的喉头下降情况;非人类灵长动物的声音和人类语音的对比;人类语音涌现时间的推定方法等。通过文献梳理,我们发现Lieberman所说的喉头下降是产生人类语音的关键指的是目前人类语言的语音形态,而反对者所定义的语言并非目前的人类语言,而是指可以用于沟通的一套以语音为媒介的符号系统。本文也为对语音起源和演化感兴趣的学者和研究生提供了大量相关的研究文献。

In this paper,a detailed review is given for theories and cutting-edge research achievements on the origin and evolution of human speech in the context of physiological development of the human speech organs.The theory of laryngeal descent proposed by Lieberman and the challenges faced by the theory,along with the responses from Lieberman,are discussed.The important arguments are introduced,which include the laryngeal descent in other mammals,the comparison of voices made by non-human primates and human speech sounds,the reasoning behind the timing of the emergence of speech.According to the review of the literature,we find that what Lieberman declares about the laryngeal descent is the prerequisite of speech,where the speech refers to humanlike speech,whereas the definition of speech used by the opposition is somewhat like a symbolic system.A large amount of the relevant literature for scholars who are interested in the origin and evolution of speech is also provided in this paper.