Neanderthals, it seems, got along well enough to mate with one another. However, the level of conversation that preceded romances among these hominins remains a matter of considerable ambiguity. The fossils known to science can’t talk, and the Neanderthals themselves disappeared long before recording equipment was invented. As a result, archaeologists can’t determine whether our extinct ancestors possessed complex language skills, although some insights do exist.
Neanderthal Speech Sounds Were Similar to Modern Languages
As noted by study author and linguist Antonio Benítez-Burraco, Neanderthal speech was almost certainly very similar to modern speech. However, it was less functionally flexible and structurally simpler. This conclusion is based on a multidisciplinary analysis of the speech capabilities of early humans, combining anatomical, socio-cultural, ecological, cognitive, and genetic data.
For instance, as Mr. Benítez-Burraco explains, the vocal apparatus of Neanderthals closely resembles our own. This suggests they were capable of producing most of the same sounds as modern humans. Additionally, their hearing was similar to that of contemporary humans. Therefore, it can be argued that these ancient people had everything necessary for complex vocal communication.
Neanderthal Language Lacked Complex Phrases
However, the shape of the Neanderthal skull cavity indicates that their brains were less “globular” than ours. This may explain why the thalamus—a region actively involved in processing language—could have been less pronounced.
This has led to assumptions that Neanderthals were less capable of “cross-modal thinking.” Consequently, it is generally believed that they lacked the ability of modern humans to create complex linguistic structures by combining different concepts.
As noted by Iflscience, Mr. Benítez-Burraco states that all these cognitive limitations likely constrain the linguistic abilities of Neanderthals. The researcher suggests that at the very least, it can be assumed that Neanderthal language had less complex syntax, fewer functional categories (such as conjunctions), and less distinctive sounds. Additionally, in the researcher’s view, it may have been less capable of conveying complex propositional meanings.
The True Pronunciation of Neanderthals Will Remain a Mystery
Regarding the sound of Neanderthal language, the researcher claims that the “cold, dry, and open environment” in which this species lived may have contributed to a “rich consonantism.” This means that Neanderthal language likely contained a significant number of consonants.
This assumption is based on known connections between the environment and language. According to this, low temperatures “do not favor the use of pitch to convey linguistic information,” while dryness “does not sound favorable to the voice.”
Mr. Benítez-Burraco also emphasizes that it’s important to remember that this is a very rough depiction of what Neanderthal language might have been like. As the author of the study admits, it’s unlikely we will ever know for certain how our ancient relatives spoke. Perhaps the only way to find out would be to invent a time machine and travel back to that distant past.