Much excitement has followed from the full genome sequencing of our nearest living relative, the chimpanzee, with other primate genomes to come. However, the special problems of evolutionary inference given close neighbors suggests this may tell us very little about human cognitive faculties such as language. The well-known example of a putative 'language gene', FOXP2, is a prime example: the differences between us and chimps could be due to chance alone. Where then can we look for insight? The most recent research by Halle on language sound systems combined with Chomsky's most recent model of syntax provides a possible and so far unexplored connection to birdsong.