Animal and Human Communication What is language and are humans the only ones who have it?

16 Features of Language 1)Uses the Vocal-auditory channel - can be done while doing other things 2)Uses broadcast transmission - need not see speaker to understand message 3)Uses directional reception - stereoscopic sound locates speaker 4)Interchangeabiliby - each is capable of saying what any other says - not so male vs female signals in other animals

16 Features of Language 5) Complete feedback - speaker hears self and monitors message 6) Specialization - is used for no other purpose than communication 7) Semanticity – many complex symbols tied to exact meanings 8) Arbitrariness - no intrinsic relationship between symbols and their meanings

16 Features of Language 9) Discreteness - no continuous sounds (eg. sirens) 10) Displacement - can talk about the past, or about things not present spatially 11) Open system - can make unique new statements and be understood 12) Duality of patterning - sound and meaning are linked

16 Features of Language 13) Cultural transmission - no genetic inheritance of specific rules/sounds/meanings 14) Prevarication - can lie - most animals cannot 15) Reflexiveness - we use language to discuss language 16) Learnability - can learn multiple language

Animal Communication These three animals communicate in ways that seem similar to language. How do their communication modes compare with the features of language?

Animal Communication Is it language? Video When Animals Talk