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Review
. 2017 Feb;24(1):163-170.
doi: 10.3758/s13423-016-1117-3.

Reflections on the "gesture-first" hypothesis of language origins

Adam Kendon  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Reflections on the "gesture-first" hypothesis of language origins

Adam Kendon. Psychon Bull Rev. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

The main lines of evidence taken as support for the "gesture-first" hypothesis of language origins are briefly evaluated, and the problem that speech poses for this hypothesis is discussed. I conclude that language must have evolved in the oral-aural and kinesic modalities together, with neither modality taking precedence over the other.

Keywords: Gesture; Language origins; Primate communication; Sign language; Speech.

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