Human language

HUMAN LANGUAGE VS

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

Daphne Tunga Anak EngkamatJude Michelle Anak Pohie

Characteristics of human language

Social tool- Communication

(People of our own culture , other culture

& ancient cultures

To be learned-Mother-tongue(first)

-Other languages(English, BM & etc)

Has sounds & meanings-Human lang is arbitrary

-Has duality.-Has basic sounds

e.g. English basic sounds

Has language rules & meanings

- guide how parts of language can be combined

-Grammar rules-Sound rules

-Generatescreativity-Infinite variety ofmessages

Variety(human language)

Can refer to more than one thing Things can be called

more than one name.

Words can be combined in avariety of ways.

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION1. Passage of information between two

animals(Biological communication).2. Study of animal communication-

zoosemiotics.

TYPES OF ANIMAL COMMUNICATION1. Intraspecific communication-within a single

species. e.g. Honeybee(dance)2. Insterspecific communication - more than one species

Functions of Communications1. Agonistic interaction (threats display during

competition).2. Mating rituals, attract & maintain attention

of potential mates.3. Ownership/territorality4. Food-related signals-lead members to a

food source.5. Alarm calls-Warn of threat from predators.

INTER-SPECIFIC

COMM

Prey to predatore.g warning

colouration in wasp

Predator to prey-Some predatorscomm to prey,

make them easier to catch.

Human/animal communication-Domestication of animals

BASIC COMPONENTS OF ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

1. Signaller- Emits signal2. Receiver-Receives signal3. Signal-The behaviour emitted by the

signaller4. Channels-A pathway through which

normally a signal travels.Channels

- Visual- Auditory- Chemical

1. Visual communication - Information transmitted by visual

means(movement, posture/shape of body, facial expressions, colour identifications & display & light). Honeybee(movement)-Performs two types of dances(communicate through dancing). a) Round dance - Indicating food is nearby - Dancing bee will ask working bees to distribute food to other bees. b)Waggle dance - Wags abdomen, vigorously sideways. - Creates angle that bee adopts, represents the angle in which food is found

Honeybee dance movement.

Posture/Shape of Body

Facial Expressionse.g. Facial expressions of a chimpanzee

Colours & Display

GoldfinchHas bright yellow body(mating season)

Male PeacockVisual display(feathers), part ofcourtship rituals.

Light(Bioluminescence)- Communicate via light signals(some

animals & insects). e.g. Anglerfish & firefly

Anglerfish- Deep down the ocean (midnight zone & abyss)- Sunlight cant reach.

Firefly

Auditory Communication- Send info by sound productions(auditory

signals/bioacoustic signal).- Good means of communication over long

distance. e.g. bottlenose dolphins

Bottlenose Dolphin-Wide range of vocalizations.- Has unique whistlings, to identify itself.

Odour/Chemical Communication-Pheromones (used for chemical

communication).-Involved in mate identification, marking

territory & alarm spreading. e.g.

SkunkSpray liquid with strong odour.

Canines & Dog Families-Use urine- Mark boundaries of their territories.

Differences. . .

CommunicationA sender provides info to

a receiver through asignal(interpret

exchange)

Human language possesses a number

of significant qualities.No animal can combine

sounds & gestures.

Relationship between sound of

a word & its meaning almostalways arbitrary

in human, animalsoften biologically

fixed.

Humans do something quite significant with their language.

Animals no.