Fear, pleasure and discomfort rank as the most elementary of these expressions. Our nearest animal relatives posess call systems that articulate these affects. These calls are extended to express concern not just for the individual issuing the call but also for the group. Humans also express themselves through powerful elementary vocalizations. Both the ability to produce these vocalizations and the ability to understand them may be genetically encoded, as may be seen from the first instant of birth with a baby's lusty crying on emerging from the womb.
Babies are wonderful vocalizers.
Their cries are penetrating, and they are able to continue for hours without getting hoarse or damaging their vocal apparatus. Their breath support system is perfect and natural. Sounds of pleasure from babies are likewise directly communicative of joy to adults who are in contact with them. Adults too have a remarkable repertoire of elementary vocalization forms, all tied to affect. Involuntary shouts of surprise, anger or fear are as penetrating and physically efficiently produced as a baby's crying.