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Sorry. Didn't mean to make things difficult for people. See article at
bottom of this post. Robert.<br><br>
At 08:31 PM 12/2/2004, Alena Sanusi wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Is there any chance you could
copy and paste this into an e-mail message? <br>
The URL you gave is available only to subscribers, and there are surely
others besides me on the list who do not have subscription
access.<br><br>
--Alena Sanusi<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">From: Robert Lawless
<robert.lawless@wichita.edu><br>
To: linganth@cc.rochester.edu<br>
Subject: [Linganth] Toothpicking<br>
Date: Thu, 02 Dec 2004 09:56:41 -0600<br><br>
Could I get reactions from some linguistics on this article:
<<a href="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/043601.html" eudora="autourl">http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/043601.html</a>>?<br><br>
Robert Lawless<br>
Department of Anthropology<br>
Wichita State University<br>
Wichita KS 67260-0052<br>
(316) 978-3195 (department)<br>
(316) 978-6185 (office)<br>
(316) 978-3351 (FAX)<br>
robert.lawless@wichita.edu<br>
<a href="http://webs.wichita.edu/anthropology" eudora="autourl">Http://webs.wichita.edu/anthropology</a><br>
</blockquote><br>
</blockquote><br>
<font size=4>DISCUSSION<br><br>
</font><font size=6><a name="cfn1"></a>On<sup> </sup>Toothpicking<sup>
</sup>in<sup> </sup>Early<sup> </sup>Hominids</font><a name="cfn1"></a>
<br>
<br>
<font size=5>William A. Agger,<sup> </sup>Timothy L. McAndrews,<sup>
</sup>and<sup> </sup>John A. Hlaudy<br>
</font><font size=4><i>Department<sup> </sup>of<sup> </sup>Internal<sup> </sup>Medicine,<sup> </sup>Gundersen<sup> </sup>Lutheran<sup> </sup>Medical<sup> </sup>Foundation<sup> </sup>(Agger)/Department<sup> </sup>of<sup> </sup>Social<sup> </sup>Biology/Archaeology,<sup> </sup>University<sup> </sup>of<sup> </sup>Wisconsin-La<sup> </sup>Crosse<sup> </sup>(Mc<sup> </sup>Andrews)/Department<sup> </sup>of<sup> </sup>Maxillofacial<sup> </sup>Surgery,<sup> </sup>Gundersen<sup> </sup>Lutheran<sup> </sup>Medical<sup> </sup>Foundation<sup> </sup>(Hlaudy),<sup> </sup>La<sup> </sup>Crosse,<sup> </sup>WI<sup> </sup>54601,<sup> </sup>U.S.A.<sup> </sup>19<sup> </sup></font><font size=2>XII</font><font size=4><sup> </sup>03</i></font><font size=5><sup> <br><br>
</sup></font><font size=2><a name="fn1"></a> Permission to reprint items<sup> </sup>in this section may<sup> </sup>be obtained only from<sup> </sup>their authors.<sup> <br><br>
</sup></font><hr>
<a name="sc1"></a> The data on<sup> </sup>toothpicking presented by Hlusko<sup> </sup>(CA 44:738<img src="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/ucp-entities/ndash.gif" alt="–">41) represent the<sup> </sup>earliest currently known non-lithic<sup> </sup>tool use by hominids.<sup> </sup>From an evolutionary perspective,<sup> </sup>the main question that<sup> </sup>follows from her interesting<sup> </sup>article is why the<sup> </sup>various species of early<sup> </sup><i>Homo</i> were compelled to<sup> </sup>pick their teeth in<sup> </sup>the first place. We<sup> </sup>suggest that toothpicking behavior<sup> </sup>may represent indirect evidence<sup> </sup>for the evolution of<sup> </sup>the biological capacity for<sup> </sup>language.<sup> <br><br>
</sup> There has been considerable<sup> </sup>debate surrounding the issue<sup> </sup>of when the capacity<sup> </sup>for modern human language<sup> </sup>evolved. Some argue that<sup> </sup>the origins of modern<sup> </sup>human language are associated<sup> </sup>with the emergence of<sup> </sup>the capacity for complex<sup> </sup>symbolic thought during the<sup> </sup>Upper Paleolithic era, approximately<sup> </sup>32,000 years ago (Noble<sup> </sup>and Davidson <a name="crf6"></a>1991). Others<sup> </sup>believe that earlier hominids,<sup> </sup>in particular Neanderthals, who<sup> </sup>have been shown to<sup> </sup>possess a hyoid bone<sup> </sup>similar to that of<sup> </sup><i>Homo sapiens</i>, engaged in language<sup> </sup>communication by at least<sup> </sup>60,000 years ago (Arensburg<sup> </sup>et al. <a name="crf1"></a>1989). Wolpoff<sup> </sup>(<a name="crf7"></a>1999) presents data that<sup> </sup>suggest that the major<sup> </sup>elements of neural organization<sup> </sup>associated with language were<sup> </sup>present as early as<sup> </sup>2 million years ago.<sup> </sup>We believe that Hlusko's<sup> </sup>results support the hypothesis<sup> </sup>that the biological capacity<sup> </sup>for human language had<sup> </sup>evolved in the earliest<sup> </sup>species of <i>Homo</i>, as<sup> </sup>early as 2.5 million<sup> </sup>years ago.<sup> <br><br>
</sup> Universally in modern<sup> </sup><i>Homo sapiens</i>, the development of<sup> </sup>speech quickens between the<sup> </sup>ages of five to<sup> </sup>ten months of life<sup> </sup>during the babbling phase<sup> </sup>with a baby's first<sup> </sup>syllables (Holowka and Petitto<sup> </sup><a name="crf3"></a>2002). This developmental phase<sup> </sup>appears to be related<sup> </sup>to a biofeedback between<sup> </sup>proprioception afferent information carried<sup> </sup>by cranial nerve V<sup> </sup>and the auditory nerve<sup> </sup>(cranial nerve VIII) to<sup> </sup>the superior temporal gyrus.<sup> </sup>There, after processing usually<sup> </sup>in the left dominant<sup> </sup>hemisphere, a verbal response<sup> </sup>is sent through the<sup> </sup>Broca's motor area via<sup> </sup>cranial nerves VII, IX,<sup> </sup>X, and XII. Cranial<sup> </sup>nerve V is the<sup> </sup>largest cranial nerve and<sup> </sup>consists of three branches.<sup> </sup>This nerve is the<sup> </sup>main sensing nerve of<sup> </sup>the maxillofacial region and<sup> </sup>conveys pain, light touch,<sup> </sup>temperature, proprioception, and deep<sup> </sup>pressure. The second division<sup> </sup>is purely sensory, supplying<sup> </sup>the upper lip, soft<sup> </sup>palate, tonsil, and roof<sup> </sup>of the mouth and<sup> </sup>the upper gums and<sup> </sup>teeth. The third division,<sup> </sup>which emerges from the<sup> </sup>cranium via the foramen<sup> </sup>ovale, is the largest<sup> </sup>division of the trigeminal<sup> </sup>nerve and consists of<sup> </sup>a large sensory root<sup> </sup>and a small motor<sup> </sup>root. The sensory distribution<sup> </sup>is wide and includes<sup> </sup>the lower lip, mandible,<sup> </sup>and temporomandibular joint and<sup> </sup>all the mandibular teeth.<sup> </sup>A large branch of<sup> </sup>the third division, the<sup> </sup>lingual nerve, is the<sup> </sup>general afferent nerve for<sup> </sup>the tongue. A small<sup> </sup>motor division provides the<sup> </sup>efferent information to the<sup> </sup>muscles of mastication for<sup> </sup>jaw movement and to<sup> </sup>a muscle (tensor veli<sup> </sup>palatini) in the soft<sup> </sup>palate important in velopharyngeal<sup> </sup>competence.<sup> <br><br>
</sup> Those afflicted with traumatic<sup> </sup>loss of the lingual<sup> </sup>branch of cranial nerve<sup> </sup>V report trouble with<sup> </sup>phonation (Lam et al.<sup> </sup><a name="crf4"></a>2003). Furthermore, those who<sup> </sup>undergo surgical repair of<sup> </sup>lingual nerve injuries express<sup> </sup>some disappointment that, while<sup> </sup>chewing, feeling, and taste<sup> </sup>improve, their speech does<sup> </sup>not (Zuniga, Chen, and<sup> </sup>Phillips <a name="crf8"></a>1997). Analysis of<sup> </sup>the main acoustic features<sup> </sup>of vowel sounds when<sup> </sup>normal cranial nerve V<sup> </sup>function is distorted by<sup> </sup>local dental anesthesia reveals<sup> </sup>various effects on the<sup> </sup>phonetic quality of speech<sup> </sup>(Niemi et al. <a name="crf5"></a>2002).<sup> </sup>Alteration in normal proprioceptive<sup> </sup>feedback has been the<sup> </sup>suggested mechanism.<sup> <br><br>
</sup> As anyone who<sup> </sup>has had small pieces<sup> </sup>of food caught between<sup> </sup>his or her teeth<sup> </sup>or has developed a<sup> </sup>tooth chip is aware,<sup> </sup>such occurrences cause a<sup> </sup>sensation out of proportion<sup> </sup>to the size of<sup> </sup>the food matter or<sup> </sup>tooth defect. This exquisitely<sup> </sup>sensitive neural pathway for<sup> </sup>conveying proprioceptive information to<sup> </sup>higher brain centers can<sup> </sup>only be routed via<sup> </sup>a developed and functioning<sup> </sup>cranial nerve V. As<sup> </sup>a result, oral dental<sup> </sup>sensations promote the obligatory<sup> </sup>postprandial toothpick, at least<sup> </sup>in modern times and<sup> </sup>plausibly in early hominids.<sup> </sup>The proprioceptive information is<sup> </sup>not only protective but<sup> </sup>critical feedback for the<sup> </sup>tongue posturing necessary for<sup> </sup>speech.<sup> <br><br>
</sup> Thus it appears that<sup> </sup>both a highly developed<sup> </sup>afferent cranial nerve V<sup> </sup>(trigeminal nerve) and VIII<sup> </sup>(auditory nerve) are needed<sup> </sup>for input to the<sup> </sup>Broadman's area along the<sup> </sup>perisylvian fissure of the<sup> </sup>human brain, the region<sup> </sup>of the brain that<sup> </sup>is critical for the<sup> </sup>formulation of speech. We<sup> </sup>hypothesize that the ability<sup> </sup>to sense and remove<sup> </sup>food particles between teeth<sup> </sup>occurred approximately 2 million<sup> </sup>years ago as a<sup> </sup>result of selective pressures<sup> </sup>driving the evolution of<sup> </sup>complex vocalization of the<sup> </sup>hominid frontal-parietal lobe.<sup> <br><br>
</sup><font size=4>References Cited<sup> </sup></font>
<ul>
<li><font size=2><a name="rf1"></a>ARENSBURG, B., A. M. TILLIER, B. VANDERMEERSCH, H. DUDAY, L. A. SCHEPARTZ, AND Y. RAK.</font> 1989. Middle Paleolithic human hyoid bone. <i>Nature</i> 338:758<img src="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/ucp-entities/ndash.gif" alt="–">60<a name="rf1"></a>. <a href="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/#crf1">First citation in article</a> | <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/338758a0">CrossRef</a>
<li><font size=2><a name="rf2"></a>HLUSKO, L. J.</font> 2003. The oldest hominid habit? Experimental evidence for toothpicking with grass stalks. <font size=2>CURRENT</font> <font size=2>ANTHROPOLOGY</font> 44:738<img src="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/ucp-entities/ndash.gif" alt="–">41<a name="rf2"></a>. <a href="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/#crf2">First citation in article</a> | <a href="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601//cgi-bin/resolve?id=doi:10.1086/379263">Full Text</a>
<li><font size=2><a name="rf3"></a>HOLOWKA, S., AND L. A. PETITTO.</font> 2002. Left hemisphere cerebral specialization for babies while babbling. <i>Science</i> 297:1515<a name="rf3"></a>. <a href="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/#crf3">First citation in article</a> | <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1074941">CrossRef</a>
<li><font size=2><a name="rf4"></a>LAM, N. P., R. B. DONOFF, L. B. KABAN, AND T. B. DODSON.</font> 2003. Patient satisfaction after trigeminal nerve repair. <i>Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, & Endodontics</i> 95:538<img src="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/ucp-entities/ndash.gif" alt="–">43<a name="rf4"></a>. <a href="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/#crf4">First citation in article</a>
<li><font size=2><a name="rf5"></a>NIEMI, M., J. P. LAAKENSON, K. VAHATALO, J. TUOMAINEN, O. AALTONEN, AND R. P. HAPPONEN.</font> 2002. Effects of transitory lingual nerve impairment on speech: An acoustic study of vowel sounds. <i>Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery</i> 60:647<img src="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/ucp-entities/ndash.gif" alt="–">52<a name="rf5"></a>. <a href="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/#crf5">First citation in article</a> | <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/joms.2002.33113">CrossRef</a>
<li><font size=2><a name="rf6"></a>NOBLE, W., AND I. DAVIDSON.</font> 1991. The evolutionary emergence of modern human behavior: Language and its archaeology. <i>Man</i> 26:223<img src="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/ucp-entities/ndash.gif" alt="–">54<a name="rf6"></a>. <a href="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/#crf6">First citation in article</a>
<li><font size=2><a name="rf7"></a>WOLPOFF, M. H.</font> 1999. 2d edition. <i>Paleoanthropology</i>. New York: McGraw<a name="rf7"></a>-Hill. <a href="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/#crf7">First citation in article</a>
<li><font size=2><a name="rf8"></a>ZUNIGA, J. R., N. CHEN, AND C. L. PHILLIPS.</font> 1997. Chemosensory and somatosensory regeneration after lingual nerve repair in humans. <i>Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery</i> 55:2<img src="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/ucp-entities/ndash.gif" alt="–">13<a name="rf8"></a>. <a href="http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CA/journal/issues/v45n3/043601/#crf8">First citation in article</a>
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