Design features of language LING 200 Winter 2009 Jan. 7

Plan for today Questions about language Questions about language Hockett’s proposed design features Hockett’s proposed design features Properties of some animal communication systems Properties of some animal communication systems

The big question(s) Is language unique to humans? Is language unique to humans? Is it fundamentally different from animal communication? Is it fundamentally different from animal communication? (What is language anyway?) (What is language anyway?)

Getting at the big question Charles Hockett (1960) “The Origin of Speech.” Scientific American 203: Charles Hockett (1960) “The Origin of Speech.” Scientific American 203: Smaller questions Smaller questions What are properties of human language?What are properties of human language? Which are shared by other communication systems?Which are shared by other communication systems? Caveat Caveat In Hockett’s day, not much known about ASLIn Hockett’s day, not much known about ASL

Hockett’s proposal Design features Design features characterize language, distinguish it from other communication systems System must have all 9 features to be language

9 features Mode of communication Mode of communication Semanticity Semanticity Pragmatic function Pragmatic function Interchangeability Interchangeability Cultural transmission Cultural transmission Arbitrariness Arbitrariness Discreteness Discreteness Displacement Displacement Productivity Productivity Common to all(?) communication systems Not found in all communication systems

Interchangeability = A user can both transmit and receive messages Not all communication display this flexibility silkworm moths: only females secrete chemicals whistling moths: males make territorial sounds

Cultural transmission Nature (innate) (vs. nurture-- learned) Nature (innate) (vs. nurture-- learned) = At least some aspect of a communication system is learned from other users A Cambodian child with an American parent will learn English, not Khmer Animal communication systems vary Fireflies and cowbirds: entirely innate Fireflies and cowbirds: entirely innate Finches: can learn to make some calls if raised in isolation; but don’t learn full system Finches: can learn to make some calls if raised in isolation; but don’t learn full system

Arbitrariness (vs. iconic) (vs. iconic) Does the form of a sign/call/signal resemble what it refers to? Does the form of a sign/call/signal resemble what it refers to? Sign languages may seem relatively iconic… Sign languages may seem relatively iconic… KNOW BLACK CANADA

Arbitrariness in some animal communication systems Arbitrariness in some animal communication systems baring teethbaring teeth Vervet monkeys Vervet monkeys media/vervetcalls.htmlhttp:// media/vervetcalls.htmlhttp:// media/vervetcalls.htmlhttp:// media/vervetcalls.html Distinct arbitrary calls for snakes, leopards, eaglesDistinct arbitrary calls for snakes, leopards, eagles

Discreteness (sometimes called duality of patterning) (sometimes called duality of patterning) System decomposable into smaller, recombinable parts System decomposable into smaller, recombinable parts a, p, r, t combine to form trap, part, rapta, p, r, t combine to form trap, part, rapt Doesn’t seem to be found in most animal communication systems Doesn’t seem to be found in most animal communication systems But bee dances agg.html (the waggle dance, a.k.a. the sickle dance)But bee dances agg.html (the waggle dance, a.k.a. the sickle dance) agg.html agg.html pattern, direction can be combined for different meaningspattern, direction can be combined for different meanings

Displacement Not limited to the here and now Not limited to the here and now Last night, 10 million years ago…Last night, 10 million years ago… Bees: limited displacement Bees: limited displacement round dance: relatively closeround dance: relatively close sickle dance: intermediate distancesickle dance: intermediate distance tail-wagging dance: relatively fartail-wagging dance: relatively far

Productivity Unlimited potential to express novel ideas Unlimited potential to express novel ideas Elements of system are fixed or infinite?Elements of system are fixed or infinite? ““Intonational phenomena in Sahaptin identified to date can be described exclusively with nuclear pitch accents.” Bees Vertical sugar water experiment

Chimp (and other primate) studies 20 th century hypothesis: Maybe chimps (and other primates) don’t use human language because of lack of opportunity to learn it. 20 th century hypothesis: Maybe chimps (and other primates) don’t use human language because of lack of opportunity to learn it. Chimp vocal tracts not suited to speech, but sign language okay Chimp vocal tracts not suited to speech, but sign language okay

Chimps’ accomplishments Can learn to associate referents with arbitrary signs Can learn to associate referents with arbitrary signs Can learn to use signs spontaneously Can learn to use signs spontaneously Can learn to use signs creatively Can learn to use signs creatively Washoe (at CWU): 'water bird' (for swan)Washoe (at CWU): 'water bird' (for swan) Can invent totally new signs Can invent totally new signs Washoe: a new sign for 'bibs'Washoe: a new sign for 'bibs' Can come up with creative solutions to problems Can come up with creative solutions to problems Kanzi: When friend Austin the chimp was moved out of compound, Kanzi got lonely, typed 'Austin TV' to request videotape of Austin.Kanzi: When friend Austin the chimp was moved out of compound, Kanzi got lonely, typed 'Austin TV' to request videotape of Austin.

Chimps’ main limitation Syntax Syntax length: 2-3 sign utteranceslength: 2-3 sign utterances inconsistent word orderinconsistent word order See also See also Noam Chomsky (“I told you so”) Noam Chomsky (“I told you so”) It is hardly likely that some species has this capacity but has never thought to use it until instructed by humans…the evidence suggests that the most rudimentary features of human language are far beyond the capacity of otherwise intelligent apes, just as the capacity to fly or the homing instinct of pigeons lie beyond the capacity of humans.It is hardly likely that some species has this capacity but has never thought to use it until instructed by humans…the evidence suggests that the most rudimentary features of human language are far beyond the capacity of otherwise intelligent apes, just as the capacity to fly or the homing instinct of pigeons lie beyond the capacity of humans.

Summary and preview Human language seems to be qualitatively different from animal communication systems Human language seems to be qualitatively different from animal communication systems Human vocal tract even seems designed for speech Human vocal tract even seems designed for speech

Question Good site on onomatopoeia in different languages (but no sound files  ) Good site on onomatopoeia in different languages (but no sound files  ) (onomatopoeia: vocabulary that imitates sound)(onomatopoeia: vocabulary that imitates sound) sonal/dabbott/animal.htmlhttp:// sonal/dabbott/animal.htmlhttp:// sonal/dabbott/animal.htmlhttp:// sonal/dabbott/animal.html What does this tell us about arbitrariness in spoken languages? What does this tell us about arbitrariness in spoken languages?