Can Starlings Speak?

This NYT story suggests that the way Starlings process and arrange sounds may illuminate the origins of speech.

Some prominent linguists, including Noam Chomsky, disagree (and Chomsky's linguistics make a lot more sense than his politics). But a defender of the experiments dismisses Chomsky.

"Chomsky may find this trivial, but that is a bit like saying apes use tools, but only the trivial kind that lack the sophistication of a tri-square or a laser level," he said."

John Hawks has more to say on his Anthropology Blog, here andhere.