Motor mechanisms in speech ontogeny: phylogenetic, neurobiological and linguistic implications.
The rhythmic mandible-generated close-open alternations of the mouth, responsible for the series of consonant-vowel alternations characteristic of babbling and of languages, is receiving increased attention as a possible manifestation of an ontogenetic and phylogenetic 'frame' underlying the serial organization of speech. The supplementary motor area appears important for production of this consonant-vowel frame in adults.
MacNeilage
P F
PF
Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA. macneilage@psy.utexas.edu
Davis
B L
BL
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009055:Mouth / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D010802:Phylogeny; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*