Evolution at work - will any other species eventually develop a written language?

Question

that is, if you give monkeys (chimps, apes, gorillas, etc...) enough time (say, in the order of millions of years), will any such species develop their own written language with an actual alphabet?

Answer 1

Written language comes only after spoken language which requires certain anatomical adaptations that most primates don't have. They may have a rudimentary language but, because they cannot vocalize efficiently, this will never become very sophisticated.

Written language involves other anatomical adaptations which most primates don't have - the precision touch - as well as technological advances, like something to write on and something to write with.

I would say that because humans occupy so much of the earth that another primate's chance of developing written language are nil but if we were suddenly to disappear, who can say what direction primate evolution would take.

One thing is for certain - humans are not here because of some special creation - being able to read and write may distinguish us from other animals but given enough time, environmental pressure, genetic exchange, random luck, and the absence of human species, it's conceivable that another primate could evolve to fill the human niche. It may be unlikely but it's also unlikely to suppose that any specific, highly adapted trait might evolve.

In any event, any primate species that might evolve to fill an empty human niche would not become human. They might equal or surpass our own genus but they would be biologically unique in their own right and, along with written language, they would certainly develop their own religion claiming special creation for just themselves.

Answer 2

Many of the world's civilisations did not have a written language. Notably the native Americans, Maori, Australian Aborigines, among others. So there is no reason to suggest that it is a normal step in evolution or that it is required to acheive any level of intelligence.

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Answer 3

You'd have to make humans extinct today for any chance of that to happen.  Humans will exterminate all the other apes and most of the monkeys, probably within 200 years.  Sad.

Answer 4

No, not unless there are significant changes in their ecological niches.  Evolution is not teleological.  Homo sapiens do not sit on top of some evolutionary ladder.  Evolution works only within the constricts of natural selection.