Teleology & evolution: Vocal cord development (Introduction)

by dhw, Friday, June 17, 2016, 18:30 (2876 days ago) @ David Turell

QUOTES: "Titze's investigations into vocal cord structure also reveal something more primitive. Titze says that vocalization evolved to help primates communicate over long distances by using high and loud calls. Modern human speech communication, however, does not make much use of the wide pitch and loudness range of the mammalian larynx.-"That capacity is still inherent in our vocal cords, he says, but so much of our communication is electronically modulated and amplified, with even professional singers aided by microphones, that our vocal cords are rarely put to their full use.
"'If you never stretch your vocal cords and never do high pitches or loud voice, eventually the ligament will atrophy into a simpler structure and you won't have that range available to you," Titze says.-David's comment: We have been given an amazing organ in the vocal cords, more capacity than we need. A good question is why they have all of this capacity when not required by evolution? Perhaps given as an extra complex design?-The quotes give a clear explanation: our ancestors needed the greater range, but when we developed our more sophisticated means of communication, the greater range became unnecessary. It's only a problem if you think your God planned every inch of your anatomy for a special purpose.