Joint origins of speech and music: testing evolutionary hypotheses on modern humans

In: Semiotica: journal of the International Association for Semiotic Studies, Band 2021, Heft 239, S. 169-176

Abstract

AbstractHow music and speech evolved is a mystery. Several hypotheses on their origins, including one on their joint origins, have been put forward but rarely tested. Here we report and comment on the first experiment testing the hypothesis that speech and music bifurcated from a common system. We highlight strengths of the reported experiment, point out its relatedness to animal work, and suggest three alternative interpretations of its results. We conclude by sketching a future empirical programme extending this work.