MEN attempting to show off to their rivals in prehistoric times may have led
to the evolution of speech. The human voice box or larynx was thought to be
unique, but now researchers have found two species of deer with “dropped
larynxes” similar to those of humans. For the deer at least, it’s all about the
advantages of having a deep voice.
A newborn baby’s larynx resembles that of other mammals. It pokes up into the
nasal passage like a snorkel, so babies can drink and breathe at the same time.
But at three months old, the larynx descends, opening…
