1. DEFINITIONS HUMAN AND ANIMAL LANGUAGES
WHAT IS LANGUAGE?
DEFINITIONS
HUMAN AND ANIMAL LANGUAGES

2. Different definitions for different purposes
Language
as a system
as a universal human capacity
as a means of communication
as a social phenomenon

3. HUMAN AND ANIMAL LANGUAGES The issue of continuity
Are humans just a step further in practising an adapted behaviour?
What are the similarities and differences in human and animal communication?
Are they qualitative or quantitave?
- measurable?
- origin?

4. Animal communication Through sounds, smells,
visual signals and touching:
- of birds, bees, ants,
bears and dogs

5. Mixed signals
Species-specific (cats and dogs)

6. Why are vocal signals easier to use?
Work from a distance: sender and receiver do not have to be close
Work in the dark
Receiver does not have to turn toward sender
Can be used simultaneously with other activities

7. What determines the nature of signals?
Higher position on the evolutionary scale?
- Of birds and chimpanzees
Social activity?
- Of cuckoos, bees and ancient hunters

8. Differences (Hocket) Use of sound signals - vocal auditory channel
Rapidly fading signal
- special types of memory

9. Total feedback
- hearing our voice
- talking to ourselves
- difficult for the deaf
Interchangeabilty
- male crickets chirp
- working bees dance
- male pheasants’ mating dance
Specialisation
- only for communication

10. - animal communication:limited set of signs, triggered by a stimulus
Openness,
creativity
- animal communication:limited set of signs, triggered by a stimulus
- human language constantly changes, new items are added, is freely applied

11. - animals: often connection between signal
Arbitrariness
- animals: often connection between signal
and meaning
- humans: no connection, interpretation is
based on consensus
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more not less.”
(Lewis Carroll: Alice in Wonderland)

12. Discreteness Duality Patterning - bats, stabs but NOT sbat
- boathouse vs. Houseboat
- Jack kissed Mary. Vs. Mary kissed Jack
but NOT Kissed Jack Mary
“But I’m not so think as you drunk I am.”
(Sir J.C. Squire, writer)

13. Functionality, intention - cause, purpose consideration
- dolphins, Washoe and Sara

14. “Bees are not as busy as we think they are. They just
Displacement
“Bees are not as busy as we think they are. They just
can’t buzz any slower.” (F.M. Hubbard, American humorist) NO
- past
- future
- questions
Prevarification
- lies

15. - talking about language
Reflexiveness
- talking about language
Traditional transmission
- genetically imprinted behaviour vs.
socioculturally transmitted

16. What is language? Systematic and generative A set of arbitrary symbols
Primarily verbal signals but also visual
Conventionalised meanings
Used for communication only
Operates in a speech community
Essentially human
Both language and language learning have universal features