Clicks

[Ronald Kephart]

All,

In the March 2006 issue of National Geographic (yeah, I can hear the 
groans), there's an article on the migration of human DNA out of 
Africa. And on page 66, there's this:

"The San communicate with clicks to keep from spooking game-- a 
feature that is also found in languages spoken by other African 
groups who carry ancient DNA markers."

So.... two questions:

(1) Do any serious linguists believe that the San or their ancestors 
chose to put clicks in their languages to keep from "spooking game"?

(b) Is the implication warranted that because the San carry "ancient 
DNA markers" therefore unusual features of their language, such as 
clicks, are therefore also vestiges of the ancient language spoken by 
their ancestors?

Ron

PS: I'm not going to write to the National Geographic; I tried that 
once, years ago, and was told more or less to "bugger off, we're the 
National Geographic and we know everything."