# Gestures Might Have Given Birth to Language
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 20, 2007, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805 "2007-05-20T09:41:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2007, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805/1 "2007-05-20T09:41:32Z")
[And I think we all know what gesture it was. đ](http://news.stonepages.com/#2373)
> [@](#):
>
> Researchers speculate about how prehuman species developed the capacity for complex language. One theory suggests that humansâ apelike ancestors first communicated through gestures. Once the neural circuits for gesture-based language had evolved, those same brain areas could have switched over to verbal communication. Indeed, research has shown that modern apes use the same area of the brain to interpret hand signals as humans use to process spoken language.
---
### Author:  [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2007, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805/2 "2007-05-20T10:54:57Z")
You know, Iâve always thought that was pretty obvious. When youâre out hunting the best way to communicate with your breatheren without alerting the prey is with hand gestures. And it works alright even when the person youâre communicating with is quite a ways away.
---
### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805/3 "2007-05-20T14:10:37Z")
[QUOTE=Fern Forest]
You know, Iâve always thought that was pretty obvious. When youâre out hunting the best way to communicate with your breatheren without alerting the prey is with hand gestures. And it works alright even when the person youâre communicating with is quite a ways away.
[/QUOTE]
Youâd think so, but, apparently, [like cavemen enjoying nookie](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=421132), it is something that seems to have never occurred to the eggheads.
---
### Author:  [@CeilingWhacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CeilingWhacks)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805/4 "2007-05-20T22:04:56Z")
I imagine cavemen giving one another the finger before they even learned to point out food for one another. At least in Boston, that hasnât changed thus far.
---
### Author:  [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805/5 "2007-05-20T22:25:15Z")
[QUOTE=CeilingWhacks]
I imagine cavemen giving one another the finger before they even learned to point out food for one another.
[/QUOTE]
Are you referring to Tuckerfanâs caveman nookie thread? đ
---
### Author:  [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805/6 "2007-05-20T22:28:25Z")
Well it does make sense. Babies can learn gestures and communicate through them before they can talk. Thus the popularity of âBaby Signsâ.
---
### Author:  [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805/7 "2007-05-21T01:01:23Z")
You realize what this means?
_Humanity evolved from mimes._
---
### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805/8 "2007-05-21T02:27:02Z")
The poor mimes, frozen in an evolutionary dead end. _LETâS KILL THEM!_ đ
---
### Author:  [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805/9 "2007-05-21T03:16:58Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim]
The poor mimes, frozen in an evolutionary dead end.
[/quote]
Donât you mean âTrapped in an evolutionary invisible boxâ?
---
### Author:  [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2007, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gestures-might-have-given-birth-to-language/404805/10 "2007-05-21T03:22:02Z")
Nah. _That_ gesture was invented by the [Mayans](http://www.worth1000.com/view.asp?entry=40739&display=photoshop). đ