Annual Celebration of the Library: "How the Voice Made Us Human"

Although other animals communicate vocally, they can’t sculpt the sounds into language. Our amazing, naturally-selected control over our breathing, our vocal cords, and our lips and tongue—resulting in the ability to communicate with spoken language—is what made a scattered band of small, biped primates in sub-Saharan Africa the dominant species on Earth. The theory of universal grammar, which sees language as a phenomenon that evolved for thought rather than communication, virtually erases the role of voice and speech in our evolution. In this talk, journalist and author John Colapinto discussed his new book, which explains why this role is so important. 

View the Library collection items that were on display at the event and are available for adoption online as part of our Adopt-a-Book program. 

About the Speaker

John Colapinto is a staff writer at The New Yorker and was previously a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, where he won a 1998 National Magazine Award for a story about a boy who underwent a sex change in infancy. This story became the bestselling book, “As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl.” His articles have also appeared in Vanity Fair, Esquire, Mademoiselle, and Us Weekly. His novel, “About the Author,” was nominated for an International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

Photo Credit: John Vincent

Guest speaker, John Colapinto, with Arlene Shaner and Paul Theerman.

Arlene Shaner and John Colapinto discuss a NYAM Library book used in John’s research for his upcoming book.

An attendee views one of the Library’s exciting recent acquisitions, which includes real chocolate samples dating to 1916!

An event attendee looks over one of the Library’s most recent acquisitions.

Library supporters explore the Library’s many recent acquisitions, all available for adoption.

Attendees get ready for John Colapinto’s riveting discussion about how the voice made us human.

NYAM’s President, Judith Salerno, welcomes Library supporters and John Colapinto to the event.

Our engaged audience listens during John Colapinto’s lecture.

John Colapinto and many compelling slides that accompanied his lecture.

John Colapinto during his lecture on the unique development of the human voice.

The interactive Q&A portion of the lecture brought the audience into the discussion.

John Colapinto and attendees discuss his talk during the post-lecture reception.

Attendees enjoy food and drinks at the post-lecture reception.

Attendees enjoy food and drinks at the post-lecture reception.

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