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The original argument was that neanderthals didn't have good language skills because "their anatomy didn't allow for making complex sounds". Pointing out that deaf or mute humans still have complex language skills seems like an adequate counterargument to me.

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That ignores the co-evolution between throat anatomy and brain structures related to language. There's no reason to select for language ability in the brain over evolutionary time if the throat can't use it. If mere ability to use sign language was enough to push language development, chimps would do much better with human-invented sign languages. Deaf and/or mute humans are, I presume, co-opting language skill "meant" (selected) for vocal language.

Fair enough. I fully agree.

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