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Computers Emulate Neanderthal Speech

Posted by Zonk on from the borrow-a-cup-of-evolution dept.

Clarence writes "After some 30,000 years of silence, the Neanderthal race is once again speaking thanks to some advanced computer simulation. A Florida Atlantic University professor is using software vocal tract reconstructions to emulate the speech of our long-dead distant relatives. 'He says the ancient human's speech lacked the "quantal vowel" sounds that underlie modern speech. Quantal vowels provide cues that help speakers with different size vocal tracts understand one another, says Robert McCarthy, who was talking at the annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists in Columbus, Ohio, on April 11. In the 1970s, linguist Phil Lieberman, of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, inferred the dimensions of the larynx of a Neanderthal based on its skull. His team concluded that Neanderthal speech did not have the subtlety of modern human speech.'"

9 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory joke by bughunter · · Score: 4, Funny

    His team concluded that Neanderthal speech did not have the subtlety of modern human speech.

    I'm imagining, then, that it sounded something like "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran."

    [ducks]

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    1. Re:Obligatory joke by jollyreaper · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm imagining, then, that it sounded something like "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran."

      [ducks] I was thinking more along the lines of "I'm the decider! You've done a heck of a job, Brownie." But I could be completely wrong. It might sound more like "Developers developers developers developers."
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    2. Re:Obligatory joke by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't expect everyone in china to know how to wield a Katana

            Neither do I. Aren't katanas Japanese? :)

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  2. Just great by CSMatt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Computers are already cryptic enough when they speak normal English. I'd rather not have to hear one say "Me get segfault. Me dump core."

  3. Groan. by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 4, Funny

    Let me guess.. the simulator immediately tried to sell people car insurance.

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    1. Re:Groan. by dreamchaser · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's people like you who sterotype all cavemen that are the problem, you insensitive clod. Some of them hunt, or sell rocks, or whatever it is they do. It's not just about selling insurance!

  4. Gutturals... by davidsyes · · Score: 4, Funny

    Throw in a Tuvan throat singer, an Aussie with a digidiroo, and Hal, and we'll have oen halluv an ensemble going.

    (Oh, throw in Shatner with some Esperanto, too... and some Kirk-being-stunned-on-heavy break dance...)

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  5. we know by Trailer+Trash · · Score: 5, Funny

    His team concluded that Neanderthal speech did not have the subtlety of modern human speech.

    It's well-established in our cartoons and such that neanderthals often use the objective "me" rather than nominative "I", i.e. "me doug". Looks like the verb of being wasn't invented yet, either...

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    Do you have ESP?
  6. Re:Ogg the Caveman by Concerned+Onlooker · · Score: 4, Funny

    Still hiding away in his cave. Working on his audio format.

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