The presence of divergent and independent research traditions in the gestural and vocal domains of primate communication has resulted in major discrepancies in the definition and operationalization of cognitive concepts. However, in recent years, accumulating evidence from behavioural and neurobiological research has shown that both human and non‐human primate communication is inherently multimodal. It is therefore timely to integrate the study of gestural and vocal communication. Herein, we review evidence demonstrating that there is no clear difference between primate gestures and vocalizations in the extent to which they show evidence for the presence of key language properties: intentionality, reference, iconicity and turn‐taking. We also find high overlap in the neurobiological mechanisms producing primate gestures and vocalizations, as well as in ontogenetic flexibility. These findings confirm that human language had multimodal origins. Nonetheless, we note that in great apes, gestures seem to fulfil a carrying (i.e. predominantly informative) role in close‐range communication, whereas the opposite holds for face‐to‐face interactions of humans. This suggests an evolutionary shift in the carrying role from the gestural to the vocal stream, and we explore this transition in the carrying modality. Finally, we suggest that future studies should focus on the links between complex communication, sociality and cooperative tendency to strengthen the study of language origins.

中文翻译：

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多模态交流和语言起源：整合手势和发声

在灵长类动物交​​流的手势和声音领域存在不同和独立的研究传统，导致认知概念的定义和操作化存在重大差异。然而，近年来，来自行为和神经生物学研究的越来越多的证据表明，人类和非人类灵长类动物的交流本质上都是多模态的。因此，整合手势和声音交流的研究是及时的。在这里，我们回顾了证据，证明灵长类动物的手势和发声在它们显示关键语言属性存在的证据的程度上没有明显区别：意向性、指称、象似性和轮换。我们还发现产生灵长类手势和发声的神经生物学机制高度重叠，以及个体遗传的灵活性。这些发现证实了人类语言具有多模态起源。尽管如此，我们注意到，在类人猿中，手势似乎在近距离交流中起到了承载（即主要提供信息）的作用，而人类面对面的互动则相反。这表明携带角色从手势流向声流的进化转变，我们探索了携带方式的这种转变。最后，我们建议未来的研究应着眼于复杂交际、社会性和合作倾向之间的联系，以加强对语言起源的研究。主要是提供信息）在近距离交流中的作用，而在人类面对面的互动中则相反。这表明携带角色从手势流到声流的进化转变，我们探索了携带方式的这种转变。最后，我们建议未来的研究应该关注复杂的交际、社会性和合作倾向之间的联系，以加强对语言起源的研究。主要是提供信息）在近距离交流中的作用，而在人类面对面的互动中则相反。这表明携带角色从手势流到声流的进化转变，我们探索了携带方式的这种转变。最后，我们建议未来的研究应着眼于复杂交际、社会性和合作倾向之间的联系，以加强对语言起源的研究。