Furthermore, whatever merit there may be to guesses about selectional processes that might, or might not, have shaped human language, they do not crucially depend on the belief that the system is an outgrowth of some mode of communication

回答如下：

"guesses"不能改为"guess" 因为，这里为名词用法，用复数表示“多种猜测“

(1)n.猜测；猜想

My guess is that the chance that these vaccines will work is zero.

我猜测这些疫苗根本不可能奏效。

He'd taken her pulse and made a guess at her blood pressure.

他给她把过脉，估量了她的血压。

Well, we can hazard a guess at the answer.

 噢，我们可以猜一猜答案。

【1】furthermore adv. 此外/而且/与此同时

【2】whatever merit 无论什么优点/长处/优势

【3】there may be 也许有

【4】to guesses about selectional process 对于选择过程的种种猜测（to 是介词的标志；不是不定式的标志）

【5】shape human languages 塑造人类语言

【6】depend on 取决于，依赖于

【7】an outgrowth of some mode of communication 某种交流方式的自然产物

【8】depend on the belief 依赖这个信仰

【9】system 系统/体系/制度/体制

句子语法结构分析：

状语：furthermore

主语：whatever merits to guesses about selectional process

谓语：there may be

修饰主语定语从句：that might, or might not, have shaped human language.

并列分句： they do not crucially depend on the belief that the system is an outgrowth of some mode of communication

并列分句主语：They

谓语：do not crucially depend on

宾语：the belief

宾语的同位语:that the system is an outgrowth of some mode of communication

引导同位语连词：that

同位语主语：the system

系动词：is

表语：an outgrowth of some mode of communication