The case of Neanderthal language(s): a multidisciplinary approach

As with other aspects of their cognitive and behavioral phenotype, the language abilities of Neanderthals are a controversial issue. In this paper, we adopt a multidisciplinary approach to this evolutionary problem and revisit most of the available evidence of the Neanderthal biology, cognition, and behavior to hypothesize about the type of languages Neanderthals might have spoken. We also build on our knowledge about the factors that account for the structural features and the diversity, number, and distribution of human languages. We conclude that Neanderthals might have spoken languages similar to human languages, although perhaps less structurally complex and less functionally flexible. Also, we could expect a high level of linguistic diversity among Neanderthals, but with the total number of languages being low because of the low population number.