Nonverbal Vocal Communication: Comparative and Developmental Approaches

Speech and culture most evidently differentiate people from animals. Yet, the biological precursors to verbal communication exists in animal communication and obvious links have been found between human and animal nonverbal vocal communication. In Nonverbal Vocal Communication specialists from several disciplines review the present knowledge on neural substrates of vocal communication, on primate vocal communication, and on precursors and prerequisites of human speech. Among other points, the book illustrates that animal vocal signals appear to be much more complex than mere expressions of effective states. The non-verbal communication data is complemented by comparative and developmental research of the preverbal period of human vocal communication. The book provides a forum for consideration of phylogenetic and ontogenetic continuities and precursors of verbal communication that will allow for critical interpretation of speech acquisition by a wide range of workers.