时差N小时 人类语言的起源(下)

Like human speech, lip smacking¹ requires quick, controlled movements of the lips, tongue, jaw², and hyoid bone, which supports the larynx and tongue.

与人类语言一样，灵长类的唇动需要控制嘴唇、舌头、下颚以及支撑喉、舌的舌骨之间的快速运动发声。

For example, if you’ve been to a zoo you’ve probably seen chimps⁴ making loud lip smacks⁵ and buzzing sounds, like blowing a raspberry.

举个例子，如果你去过动物园，你可能会发现大猩猩发出很大声的咂嘴声和嗡嗡声，像是故意发出嘘声。

Scientists believe that these sounds are a controlled form of chimp³ communication.

科学家相信这些声音是大猩猩沟通的一种形式。

This research doesn’t quite solve the puzzle of the evolution of human speech.

这项研究并不能完全解开人类语言进化的谜团。

But it is a fascinating clue that the way we speak may have developed from a combination of sounds produced by the vocal⁶ cords and by rapid, controlled movements of the vocal tract⁷, including lips, tongue and jaw.

不过该研究却提供了一个很有价值的线索，即人类说话的方式可能是从声带和声道（由嘴唇、舌头和下颚组成）的快速运动发出的声音发展而来的。

1 smacking   

活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的

参考例句：

• He gave both of the children a good smacking. 他把两个孩子都狠揍了一顿。
• She inclined her cheek,and John gave it a smacking kiss. 她把头低下，约翰在她的脸上响亮的一吻。

2 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

3 chimp   

n.黑猩猩

参考例句：

• In fact,the color of gorilla and chimp are light-color.其实大猩猩和黑猩猩的肤色是较为浅的。
• The chimp is the champ.猩猩是冠军。

4 chimps   

（非洲）黑猩猩( chimp的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Chimps are too scarce, and too nearly human, to be routinely slaughtered for spare parts. 黑猩猩又太少，也太接近于人类，不可以作为人器官备用件说杀就杀。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 医学的第四次革命
• And as nonprimates, they provoke fewer ethical and safety-related concerns than chimps or baboons. 而且作为非灵长类，就不会产生像用黑猩猩或狒狒那样的伦理和安全方面的顾虑。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 医学的第四次革命

5 smacks   

掌掴（声）( smack的名词复数 )； 海洛因； （打的）一拳； 打巴掌

参考例句：

• His politeness smacks of condescension. 他的客气带有屈尊俯就的意味。
• It was a fishing town, and the sea was dotted with smacks. 这是个渔业城镇，海面上可看到渔帆点点。

6 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

7 tract   

n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林)

参考例句：

• He owns a large tract of forest.他拥有一大片森林。
• He wrote a tract on this subject.他曾对此写了一篇短文。