Many non-human primates have the vocal anatomy to produce human speech but lack the proper brain wiring. Vowel-like vocal patterns have been recorded in baboons which has implications for the origin of speech in humans. Consonant- and vowel-like sounds exist in some orangutan calls and they maintain their meaning over great distances. The time range for the evolution of human language and/or its anatomical prerequisites extends, at least in principle, from the phylogenetic divergence of Homo (2.3 to 2.4 million years ago) from Pan (5 to 6 million years ago) to the emergence of full behavioral modernity some 50,000–150,000 years ago. Few dispute that Australopithecus probably lacked vocal communication significantly more sophisticated than that of great apes in general.
Many non-human primates have the vocal anatomy to produce human speech but lack the proper brain wiring Vowel-like vocal patterns have been recorded in baboons which has implications for the origin of speech in humans Consonant- and vowel-like sounds exist in some orangutan calls and they maintain their meaning over great distances The time range for the evolution of human language and/or its anatomical prerequisites extends at least in principle from the phylogenetic divergence of Homo (23 to 24 million years ago) from Pan (5 to 6 million years ago) to the emergence of full behavioral modernity some 50000–150000 years ago Few dispute that Australopithecus probably lacked vocal communication significantly more sophisticated than that of great apes in general