In the remote mountains of Ethiopa, a species of primates called geladas are using lip-smacking to communicate with each other. This form of communication has surprising similarieties to human speech. The gelada is the only nonhuman primate to use a type of speech to communicate and interact. Their noises separate them from other primates because they use more then 2 syllables and change pitch and volume while "talking". Their new behavior suggests they evolved their communication skills and also leads to the idea that other primates could join this evolutionary stride. Geladas are demonstrating that they can use lip-smacking to make speech like sounds that can be understood by other geladas.
Thore Bergman from the University of Michigan first encountered these primates while fieldworking and stated, "I would find myself frequently looking over my shoulder to see who was talking to me, but it was just the geladas. It was unnerving to have primate vocalizations sound so much like human voices." He had never experienced such interactions with other primates. Bergman then analyzed recordings of the geladas and found that their pattern of sound in structurally similar to human speech. These primates are not only using this communication for buisness, but also to be social.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPtcNucxiMg
NOS Themes
Role of motivation and curiosoty: We humans are very curious and amazed that the geladas have the ability of speech close to ours and want to know how, when and why they developed this ability.
Science is based on evidence: Although there is no statistical evidence, there is evidence from listening to the geladas and hearing their similar sounds and patterns.
Article: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2013/04/08/rare_primates_vocal_lipsmacks_share_features_of_human_speech.html
Other Info: http://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(12)00475-7
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