Primate Vocal Communication, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1988

Communication is both a prerequisite and manifestation of social organization and in this sense several chapters of this volume are aimed to investigate the way vocal communication serves its ultimate function of maintaining social organization. Although manifold parallels exist to vocal communication in birds, additional mechanisms of vocalization are found in primates. Treating the various psychological, ecological, behavioral, and neurobiological aspects of vocalization this book provides an interdisciplinary approach for the understanding of biocommunication in primates including humans. Conceptual as well as methodological considerations are given in a balanced way. The addition of a comprehensive glossary gives an overview also to nonspecialists in this field.

Comparative and Field Studies.- Vocal Communication in Primates and Birds: Parallels and Contrasts.- Vocal Quavering: A Basis for Recognition in Forest Guenons.- An Analysis of Toque Macaque Cohesion Calls from an Ecological Perspective.- Environmental Influences on the Structure of Primate Vocalizations.- Social Interactions.- A New Approach to Finding Components Essential for Intraspecific Communication.- Serial Calling as a Mediator of Interaction Processes: Crying in Primates.- Communications as Social Interaction: Its Importance in Ontogeny and Adult Behavior.- Conversational Vocal Exchanges in Squirrel Monkeys.- Vocal Play Behavior in Cotton-Top Tamarins.- Biological Substrates.- Ethopharmacology of Vocal Behavior in Primates.- Neural Basis of Signal Detection.- Central Control of Monkey Calls.- Conceptual Frameworks.- Primate Vocal Expression of Affective State.- Neurobiology and Pathology of Subhuman Vocal Communication and Human Speech.- Glossary of Terms.