Language and Gestures….are we going to the Apes?

Well, the verdict is in. We are really going to the apess. Chimps and bonobos, that is. According to the latest study by psychologists from the University of California, it seems these two monkeys display similar gestures when trying to communicate as does a human baby.

Looking at facial expressions and gestures, the researchers found that all three similarly pointed their fingers and raised their arms when wanting to be picked up.  (They didn’t talk about the eating similarities) However, the difference was that the human used gesture and human vocalizations while the apes made no noise.

The researchers think that this finding “suggests that the ability to combine gesture and vocalization may have been important for the evolution of language.”

So remember, when you use hand gestures and speak at the same time, the ability came to you really early…..as a baby.