ABSTRACT
There are different theories about language evolution. Some authors claim that
language (and speech) evolved from monkey vocalization (Cheney & Seyfarth,
1990; Ghazanfar & Hauser, 1999; Hauser, 1996; MacLean, 1993). Others claim
that language/communicative behavior stems from gestural communication
(Armstrong et al., 1995; Corballis, 1992, 1999, 2002; Fogassi & Ferrari, 2004;
Kimura, 1993; Paget, 1963; Rizzolatti & Arbib, 1998). Some even deny a direct
evolution of language from some monkey precursor, considering the former as a
completely new acquisition of the human species, with characteristics that are
entirely different from any other animal cognitive function (Chomsky, 1986).
