Editing Origin of language (section)

==== Size exaggeration hypothesis ====
To lower the larynx is to increase the length of the vocal tract, in turn lowering [[formant]] frequencies so that the voice sounds "deeper"—giving an impression of greater size. John Ohala argues that the function of the lowered larynx in humans, especially males, is probably to enhance threat displays rather than speech itself.<ref>John J. Ohala, 2000. [http://linguistics.berkeley.edu/~ohala/papers/lowered_larynx.pdf The irrelevance of the lowered larynx in modern Man for the development of speech.] Paris, ENST: ''The Evolution of Language'', pp. 171–172.</ref> Ohala points out that if the lowered larynx were an adaptation for speech, adult human males would be expected to be better adapted in this respect than adult females, whose larynx is considerably less low. However, females outperform males in verbal tests,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Barel |first1=Efrat |last2=Tzischinsky |first2=Orna |date=June 2018 |title=Age and Sex Differences in Verbal and Visuospatial Abilities |journal=Advances in Cognitive Psychology |volume=2 |issue=14 |pages=51–61 |doi=10.5709/acp-0238-x |pmc=7186802 |pmid=32362962}}</ref> falsifying this whole line of reasoning.

[[W. Tecumseh Fitch]] likewise argues that this was the original selective advantage of laryngeal lowering in the human species. Although (according to Fitch) the initial lowering of the larynx in humans had nothing to do with speech, the increased range of possible formant patterns was subsequently co-opted for speech. Size exaggeration remains the sole function of the extreme laryngeal descent observed in male deer. Consistent with the size exaggeration hypothesis, a second descent of the larynx occurs at puberty in humans, although only in males. In response to the objection that the larynx is descended in human females, Fitch suggests that mothers vocalizing to protect their infants would also have benefited from this ability.<ref>Fitch, W. T. (2002). Comparative vocal production and the evolution of speech: Reinterpreting the descent of the larynx. In A. Wray (ed.), ''The Transition to Language''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 21–45.</ref>