A Valid Language

This post is written in response to Alex's critique of Neanderthal's in Love.

While I recognize that there is a definite argument for and against the existence of developed language in Neanderthal culture, I am compelled to take the opposing side and defend Mithen's belief that the Neanderthal hmming is enough evidence, along with physiological traits, to conclude that the Neanderthals had a sufficient form of communication through sound. Music and sound is an important part of everyday life for many people. We as humans communicate not only through our developed language but also through other verbal sounds and expressions. Sighs, groans, exclamations and other expressions of emotion or feeling punctuate our lives. I believe it would be easy for us to get along without any sort of symbolic language, that is language that conveys thoughts and ideas through specific words and explanations.

Imagine talking to someone who does not have any experience with language. In order to communicate with this person, one would have to not only use gestures and body language but also I imagine sound. Music and sound is the one "language" that can cross through all cultures, whether they exist with a spoken language of their own or not. A symphony is the same no matter what language you speak. The music is the same and the feelings the music invokes is the same. It conveys a basic emotion or sensation that the composer intended.

This is what the Neanderthals seemed to be doing with their hmming. Granted, they could not convey specific ideas and details, but they could communicate emotion and feeling. The communication of emotion is just as important as the communication of fact. There are many cultures that still use forms of sound to communicate rather than a set language like we do. And the inclusion of the Neanderthal hmmming seems to me to be just as valid a form of language as any we may have today.