New Evidence in the Development of Human Language

US Researches have new solid evidence about the development of human language. Great apes, such as chimpanzees, bonobos, orang-utans, and gorillas, use body language, gestures, to communicate along with the vocalizations and facial expressions. The discovery is an additional key in how humans developed language. The researchers observed the great apes gesturing to other apes using their right hands to relay on specific messages. In different situations, the same gesture can mean different things; however, this specific gesture, offering the right arm with an open hand, was used in three different, but consistent, situations. In one situation, the ape offering his hand to another ape was begging for food. After a fight, this gesture is a peace offering, paralleling the human behavior to offer to shake an opponents hand after a fight. Finally, a male gesturing to a female ape in this manner was an invitation to have sex. The most interesting development with these gestures is the consistent use of the right hand, the hand operated by the left side the brain, the home to the language control center in humans. This really is an interesting article and you should check it out at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6610447.stm