Geography shaping speech?

"A recent study published in PLOS One shares evidence that geography may play a part in shaping these sounds. Anthropologist Caleb Everett analyzed 567 language locations and found a commonality that crossed dialectical boundaries and language families: languages with ejective phonemes tend to occur at higher elevations throughout the world."

"Everett believes the conditions at higher altitudes may encourage the production of ejective phonemes. These utterances require that the vocal cords are closed and raised. Everett holds that this is easier to accomplish at higher altitudes where atmospheric pressure is lower, which means that air pressure in the mouth and lungs is lower so it may be easier to force the vocal cords closed. Everett also proposes that the higher incidence of ejective phonemes at higher altitudes may represent a biological adaptation. With ever word uttered, we’re generally exhaling during some portion of the utterance. This exhalation also releases water vapor, which Everett informs us is not a trivial matter. Apparently, we lose up 400 ml of water vapor though exhalations. At higher altitudes, this can lead to dehydration and severe forms of altitude sickness. Because ejective phonemes require the vocal cords to the closed, they’re also not drawing on air contained within the lungs and therefore releasing water vapor—in this way, ejective phonemes could be a biological adaptation to an extreme living condition."

From Scientific American: Here


Atmospheric pressure, altitude, the loss of water vapor through exhalations, as environmental influences on our biology in such a way that these factors have shaped/caused the production of an ejective phoneme? And therefore geography shapes speech and language?

I don't know... maybe...