Baby talk key to evolution

Interesting theory here about the origin of spoken language. Does a good job of outlining the basic issues that are associated with hypothesising origins of speech. Not sure that this one does the job, though it could be part of the picture: we really need to be thinking in terms of multiple factors coming together, I suspect [like anatomical -the human lowering of the larynx -which is a plank in the argument for the 'aquatic Ape' hypothesis].

Proably needs to be taken with this article on the relative speed of human evolution. Where the issue is that "with humans, the relative size of the brain does not fit the trend - our brains are disproportionately big, much bigger even than the brains of other non-human primates, including our closest relatives, chimpanzees." And investigations seem to indicate "We've proven that there is a big distinction," Prof Lahn said. "Human evolution is, in fact, a privileged process because it involves a large number of mutations in a large number of genes." And the suggestion that the biggest driver for this is the greater sociability of humans: "In an increasingly social environment, greater cognitive abilities probably became more of an advantage.
"As humans become more social, differences in intelligence will translate into much greater differences in fitness, because you can manipulate your social structure to your advantage," he said." And it seems to me that language is a crucial ingredient of that mix and it also seems to lend weight to the hypothesis of neoteny advanced in The Eternal Child: How Evolution Has ...">"The Eternal Child" by Clive Broomhall.
Original article:Guardian Unlimited | Life | Baby talk key to evolution