Abstract
A number of recent studies have revealed correspondences between song- and language-related neural structures, pathways, and gene expression in humans and songbirds. Analyses of vocal learning, song structure, and the distribution of song elements have similarly revealed a remarkable number of shared characteristics with human speech. This article reviews recent developments in the understanding of these issues with reference to the phonological phenomena observed in human language. This investigation suggests that birds possess a host of abilities necessary for human phonological computation, as evidenced by behavioral, neuroanatomical, and molecular genetic studies. Vocal-learning birds therefore present an excellent model for studying some areas of human phonology, though differences in the primitives of song and language as well as the absence of a human-like morphosyntax make human phonology differ from birdsong phonology in crucial ways.
Highlights
The striking similarities between how some birds learn to sing and how human infants learn to talk has been a source of fascination for researchers for generations, dating back to Darwin’s (1871) Descent of Man
Significant gaps in our knowledge remain, recent genetic, neuroanatomical, and behavioral studies have served to underscore the parallels between human language phonology and birdsong
These similarities are due in large part to convergent evolution, but some have their roots in homologies of neural structures, such as between the mammalian auditory cortex and the avian pallium
Summary
The striking similarities between how some birds learn to sing and how human infants learn to talk has been a source of fascination for researchers for generations, dating back to Darwin’s (1871) Descent of Man. The availability of new genetic and neuroimaging techniques has complemented these behavioral studies so that we may begin to understand birdsong and human language on the level of neural connectivity and gene expression. These approaches underscore the similarities between perception and production in humans and birds that are vocal learners. I review some recent literature on this topic, focusing on two main areas: vocal learning and vocalization structure (phonological syntax) In each of these areas, what is used to learn, perceive, and produce birdsong appears to be highly similar to what is employed in human speech. A bird brain may not be truly language-ready, but may still provide an excellent model for understanding components of human speech and the constraints that shaped the evolution of the human language faculty
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
