FOXP2 gene and language development: the molecular substrate of the gestural-origin theory of speech?

The view that language evolved from a pri-marily gestural mode of communication has its roots on the 18th-century philoso-phers speculations (Vico, 1953/1744; de Condillac, 1971/1756). Over time, these philosophical thoughts have gradually got consistence, thanks to the research in the field of Psychology and Neuroscience, which has provided exciting evidence in support of the so-called gestural origin-theory of language (Corballis, 2002). This theory recognizes to the gestures a precise role in language development. In particular, in terms of evolution it has been sug-gested that spoken language evolves from an ancient communication system using arm gestures. Accordingly, it has been sug-gested that gestures of the mouth might have been added to the manual system to form a combined manuofacial gestural