Introduction The phenomenon of language is not unique to humans. To some degree, vocal communication is developed in many species. However, the complexity and the variety of human language far supersedes that of even the most developed and complex animals. The reasons for this, as well as the most common prerequisites, are debatable. Most of the scholars ascribe the language to the intricate social structures unique to humans and the inevitability of the emergence of the sophisticated signal system to support the society. Others point to the evolutionary nature of the phenomenon, citing the evident benefits of the communication means both for the existing socialized species and the purported advantages that were attained by human ancestors as the language developed. In any case, the comparing and contrasting of the vocal communications in humans and non-human primates is the most promising direction for inquiry, as it sheds the most light on the processes that have shaped the language system of humanity. Production mechanism (anatomy and physiology) The most influential early approach to the research of human vocal communications was the publication of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. It allowed viewing the language as a developed trait. The next question was “How did it develop?” This part of the research is complicated by two factors. First, the vocal apparatus is made primarily of the soft tissue, which does not fossilize. Second, the spoken language leaves little to no trace in proto-human culture. Thus, the two main means of tracking are unavailable. The best alternative is to review the tendencies in vocal communications of the nearest species – in our case, primates – and extrapolate the conclusions from the results. Acoustic structure and degree of complexity Anatomically, the structure of the vocal apparatus is similar throughout the order of primates, including humans. The crucial components are the larynx, the oral and nasal cavities, also known as “filters”, and the secondary obstacles, like the lips, teeth, and tongue (Ghazanfar and Rendall 457). The basic mechanism for all primates can be described as follows: the air from the lungs goes through the larynx, encounters the vocal cords, which resonate and produce sound. The sound is then further modified by passing through obstacles. Thus, we can say that the mechanism of sound formation is identical in humans and nonhuman primates. The same can be said about the presence of components crucial for the formation. What sets us apart is the configuration of the equipment. The humans have their larynx sufficiently lowered compared to other species, creating a deeper throat, or pharynx. The oral cavity is also significantly shorter. As the oral cavity serves as a resonant chamber for the modification of vowels produced by the vibrating vocal cords, this change allows for easier manipulation and thus a wider range of sounds. The introduction of the pharynx also contributes to this, essentially creating the second chamber of different qualities. Furthermore, the velum, which is responsible for separating the nasal cavity, can be locked with epiglottis in non-human primates, limiting their articulation capability. Finally, the primates’ tongue and lips, while well-suited for their primary functions, are underdeveloped for sound modulation. As a result, the acous