Radiographic analysis of canine vocal tract anatomy and its implications for human language origins

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dc.contributor.authorPlotsky, Kyle
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorRendall, Drew
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-28T21:25:59Z
dc.date.available2014-07-28T21:25:59Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.degree.levelMastersen_US
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.descriptionviii, 88 leaves ; 29 cmen_US
dc.description.abstractRadiographic images of the skull and vocal tract of adults from two canid species were analyzed for two studies addressing functional issues in animal communication and human language. Study 1 tested the hypothesis that vocal tract length scales reliably with overall body size such that the acoustic features of vocalizations influenced by vocal tract length can serve as honest cues to vocalizer body size. Results supported this hypothesis but emphasized that correlations with body size were better for oral cavity length than for pharyngeal cavity length. Study 2 tested the hypothesis that laryngeal position can vary in response to selection on cranio-facial size and shape. Results supported this hypothesis, finding that the larynx occupies a more descended position in the vocal tract of individuals with shorter, broader faces compared to longer, narrower faces. The latter findings have important implications for the origins and evolution of language in humans.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/3469
dc.language.isoen_CAen_US
dc.proquestyesNoen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Psychology, c2013en_US
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychologyen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)en_US
dc.subjectSound production by animalsen_US
dc.subjectBody sizeen_US
dc.subjectAnimal communicationen_US
dc.subjectLanguage and languages -- Originen_US
dc.subjectDogs -- Physiologyen_US
dc.subjectDogs -- Vocalizationen_US
dc.subjectFoxes -- Physiologyen_US
dc.subjectFoxes -- Vocalizationen_US
dc.subjectDissertations, Academicen_US
dc.titleRadiographic analysis of canine vocal tract anatomy and its implications for human language originsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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