2007-06-26 11:59:30 · 13 answers · asked by Osofo A 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Many birds have developed the ability to mimic sounds. It allows them to use other bird and animal calls to maintain their territory, thus improving their chances of survival. To them, words are just sounds, not concepts. Higher primates (chimps, gorillas, etc, but usually not monkeys) do show some understanding of human words, but in the wild, being able to vocalize the sounds humans make is not a survival trait, so there has been no environmental pressure to select for this trait. If their vocal cords, mouth, nose, and tongue could make human words, they would probably learn them with enough exposure.
2007-06-26 12:20:22 · answer #1 · answered by armandd_2000 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The vocal cords of primates, except for humans, are not developed in a way that allows them to make the same sounds we do. As we evolved and our societies became more complex we needed better ways to communicate which led to our ability to speak. Primate societies, while usually rather complex, don't have the same requirements we do so they get along with a less sophisticated communication system.
Parrots, and various other birds, just happen to have developed vocal abilities that allow them to mimic many sounds--including the sounds humans make. Likely it's because many bird species have a large variety of calls they need to be able to produce for mating, warnings or to claim territory among other uses. It's not that their societies are more complex than primates, just that they must communicate over vast distances (hence their calls being heard far and wide) and to many individuals at once as opposed to primates who generally communicate both verbally and through facial expressions and other physical means.
2007-06-26 12:08:04 · answer #2 · answered by Digital Haruspex 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, monkeys can communicate to one another. We just can't understand what it is they are communicating most of the time. Man has just somehow developed language and monkeys have not. Parrots mimic voice patterns, but they have no idea of the meaning of the word.
2007-06-26 12:04:39 · answer #3 · answered by DBSII 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Monkeys can talk they just don't have the complexity of language that we have developed because we have a much more complex vocal system..
A parrot mimicking sounds in not communication. The parrot has really no idea what its saying, its just repeating sound patterns.
2007-06-26 12:03:10 · answer #4 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Parrots are making sounds, not words. We don't really know how much they comprehend. Chimps can communication via sign language, they just don't have proper vocal cords to produce sounds we consider words.
2007-06-26 12:02:48 · answer #5 · answered by hattiefrederick 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
because we are not close to monkeys, we didnt evolve from apes or monkeys, god created us and birds like parrots, its a miracle that parrots can mimic words, god gave humans a complex vocal system to speak with and also parrots were given a similar vocal system, apes and monkeys have different or u can say a less complex vocal system so we cant recognise their language but they do have a language that is completely different from ours.
2007-06-26 14:12:20 · answer #6 · answered by M!z0 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
birds copy vocally.
as do monkeys, only physically
in other words, who the hell knows
2007-06-26 12:02:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
monkeys talk when the humans are not looking, and they engage in the most thought provoking conversations too
2016-03-19 04:48:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe people and monkeys are related in any way... only that they were created by the same intelligent mind.
2007-06-26 12:04:57 · answer #9 · answered by firefly1334 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
ape's can use sign language
2007-06-26 12:02:28 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋