• Question: why are humans the only mamals that can talk?

    Asked by bellabxxx to Damien, Rachael, Suzi, Tim on 22 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by puddleduck.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      Hi @ballabxxx
      Tim and Damien both do language research, so probably know better than me, but I assume it was to do with our brains growing bigger and more complicated than most other mammals, and us ending up living in larger groups so needing to communicate.

      Our areas of the brain that understand speak, those that produce speak and the parts of our head and throat that enable us to speak would probably have all evolved together. But I don’t know more than this.

      Anyone else got a better explanation?
      Sorry I can’t fully answer your question!

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