Animal language are those forms of non human animal communication that show similarities to human language. Animal communication may be considered complex enough to be called a form of language if: the inventory of signs is large, the signs are relatively arbitrary, and the animals produce them with a degree of volition (as opposed to conditioned instincts). Animal communication can also be evidenced through the use of lexigrams (as used by chimpanzees and bonobos) in addition to signs. While the term "animal language" is widely used, researchers agree that animal languages are not as complex or expressive as human language.

Some researchers, including the linguist Charles Hockett, argue that there are significant differences separating human language from animal communication even at its most complex, and that the underlying principles are not related.^[1] Accordingly, linguist Thomas A. Sebeok has proposed to not use the term "language" for animal sign systems.^[2] Facial expressions should not be considered a language.

Marc Hauser, Noam Chomsky, and W. Tecumseh Fitch assert an evolutionary continuum exists between the communication methods of animal and human language.^[3]

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1 Aspects of human language
• 2 Primate: studied examples
• 3 Non-primates: studied examples
  • 3.1 Birds
  • 3.2 Insects
  • 3.3 Mammals
    • 3.3.1 Aquatic mammals
  • 3.4 Mollusks
• 4 Comparison of the term with "animal communication"
• 5 See also
  • 5.1 Researchers
  • 5.2 Animals
• 6 References
• 7 Further reading
• 8 External links

Aspects of human language[edit]

Human and chimp, in this case Claudine Andre with a bonobo.

The following properties of human language have been argued to separate it from animal communication:^[4]

• Arbitrariness: there is (usually) no rational relationship between a sound or sign and its meaning^[5] (e.g. there is nothing intrinsically "housy" about the word "house").
• Discreteness: language is composed of small, repeatable parts (discrete units) that are used in combination to create meaning.
• Displacement: languages can be used to communicate ideas about things that are not in the immediate vicinity either spatially or temporally.^[5]
• Duality of patterning: the smallest meaningful units (words, morphemes) consist of sequences of units without meaning (speech sounds morphemes).^[5] Also called Double articulation
• Productivity: users can understand and create an indefinitely large number of utterances.^[5]
• Semanticity: specific signals have specific meanings.^[5]