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Why are non‐human primates incapable of verbal language similar that used by humans?

User Eric Mason
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Final answer:

Non-human primates are incapable of verbal language similar to humans due to lacking the necessary anatomical features, their limited range and flexibility of communication, and the divergence of biological and cultural features.

Step-by-step explanation:

Non-human primates, such as gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans, are incapable of verbal language similar to humans due to several reasons.

Firstly, non-human primates lack the anatomical features necessary for producing human-like speech. They do not have the vocal tract required to make the complex sounds of human language.

Secondly, while non-human primates have shown the ability to learn and use simple signs or gestures, their communication is limited in both range and flexibility. They can only use these signs to achieve specific goals and cannot combine them in an infinite number of ways to produce new meanings, unlike human language.

Lastly, although non-human primates share a common ancestor with humans, the biological and cultural features that enabled language in humans must have emerged after the divergence from non-human primates.

User Brzozow
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