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Six Key Differences

The document outlines six key differences between animal and human communication. Animal communication is innate but limited, relying on set responses to stimuli. In contrast, human language is open-ended, creative, and can express new meanings. It changes rapidly through culture while animal communication changes slowly through genetic evolution. Linguists believe language is uniquely human and that animal communication lacks features like grammar, creativity, and the ability to learn new forms of communication, keeping it from being considered a true language.

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fakpak
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41 views

Six Key Differences

The document outlines six key differences between animal and human communication. Animal communication is innate but limited, relying on set responses to stimuli. In contrast, human language is open-ended, creative, and can express new meanings. It changes rapidly through culture while animal communication changes slowly through genetic evolution. Linguists believe language is uniquely human and that animal communication lacks features like grammar, creativity, and the ability to learn new forms of communication, keeping it from being considered a true language.

Uploaded by

fakpak
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Six Key Differences:


Animal: The signs of animal systems are inborn.
Human: The capacity to be creative with signs is
inborn,
but the signs (words) themselves are acquired
culturally.
------------------------------------------------------------------Animal: Communication is set responses to
stimuli (indexes).
Human: Not limited to use as an index.
------------------------------------------------------------------Animal: Each sign has one and only one function;
each meaning can be expressed only in one way
Human: Signs often have multiple functions; one
meaning can be expresses in many ways
------------------------------------------------------------------Animal: Not naturally used in novel way
Human: Creative, can be adapted to new
situations
------------------------------------------------------------------Animal: Closed inventory of signs; only a set
number of different messages can be sent
Human: Open ended. Grammar (rules of syntax)
allows a virtually unlimited number of messages
to be constructed
------------------------------------------------------------------6. Animal: Change extremely slowly, with the
speed of genetic evolution.
Human: Change rapidly as a cultural
phenomenon.

Animal vs Human Communication


Language is a system of communication that uses random
signals, for example, sounds, written symbols, and gestures.
Language is a capacity that humans have and is organized in
different forms.
Animals also communicate, even though they don't have
language.
Human Language
Language is the most effective way to communicate with
others.
It is organized and open for new words and meanings.
It enables humans to gain knowledge, preserve it, and
transfer it to the coming generations.
Animal Language
Animals also communicate.
Some animals like honey bees, dogs, and dolphins have
developed their own way of communicating.
The animals' way of communicating lacks creativity and
flexibility.
Communication is genetically gained and not through
learning.
Main Differences
Human language is creative and is always producing new
expressions and sentences.
Animal communication is closed system and don't have the
ability to recall events or experiences from the past.
Animal communication can be considered to be a response
to stimuli.
Human language is interchangeable, while only a certain sex
of animals is able to do certain things.
Animals cannot learn different forms of communication.
"Linguists believe that language is a unique human behavior and
that animal communication falls short of being a 'language' in many
ways". Chomsky believes that any species that is not human don't
have a system of grammar, so it cannot be considered a language.
MacPhail believes that animals don't have a mechanism that
humans have in their brain that is responsible for the acquisition of
different languages.

Animal vs Human Communication


Language is a system of communication that uses random signals, for example, sounds, written
symbols, and gestures.
Language is a capacity that humans have and is organized in different forms
Animals also communicate, even though they don't have language.
Human Language
Language is the most effective way to communicate with others
It is organized and open for new words and meanings
It enables humans to gain knowledge, preserve it, and transfer it to the coming generations
Animal Language
Animals also communicate
Some animals like honey bees, dogs, and dolphins have developed their own way of
communicating
The animals' way of communicating lacks creativity and flexibility
Communication is genetically gained and not through learning.
Main Differences
Human language is creative and is always producing new expressions and sentences
Animal communication is closed system and don't have the ability to recall events or
experiences from the past
Animal communication can be considered to be a response to stimuli
Human language is interchangeable, while only a certain sex of animals are able to do certain
things
Animals cannot learn different forms of communication
Linguists Thoughts...
"Linguists like Chomsky and MacPhail believe that language is a unique human behavior and
that animal communication falls short of being a 'language' in many ways"
Chomsky believes that any species that is not human don't have a system of grammar, so it
cannot be considered a language
MacPhail believes that animals don't have a mechanism that humans have in their brain that is
responsible for the acquisition of different languages

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