Animal communication Flashcards
What is Arbitrariness?
Arbitrariness means that a word or sign has no direct or obvious relation to its meaning e.i. The word chair has no direct relation to the object chair.
What is Discreteness?
Discreteness means that there are discrete unites in a language that can retain meaning even when alone or with other discrete units.
What is Displaced Reference?
Displaced reference means that you can communicate an idea/object etc that is not in the here and now.
What is Stimulus-freedom?
Stimulus-freedom is when one can choose to withhold information from someone else and is not dictated by instinct.
Do bees have a language of their own?
No. Whilst bees have a fully functioning communication system with displaced reference, innateness, etc it lacks interchangeability, Discreteness etc.
Can human primates learn and use language?
No. Although many scientists have spent years of their lives trying to teach human primates language it has never fully succeeded.
What aspects of language does animal communication have?
Animal communication includes language aspects such as innateness, critical period, arbitrariness, and structure.
What aspects of language is animal communication missing?
Animal communication is not compositional, recursive, infinite or creative.
What is ‘Interchangeability’?
Interchangeability means that any member of the species can produce any of the signs used in the system.
