Animal communication Flashcards
Communication
conveying information (intentionally or not) by means of signs
semiotics
The study of signs
What are the two parts of a sign?
the signifier and the signified
the signifier
a word, a scent, a gesture, a colour change, etc.
the signified
the “meaning” interpreted from the sign
two things that could be signified by the sign
extension or intention
extension
real-world referent
intention
the mental representation associated with the sign
extension/intention example
Example: the word ‘tree’
• Signifier: , /tri/
• Extension: an actual tree (or the set of all actual trees)
• Intension: mental representation with properties like “has a trunk and branches,” “is a plant”, etc.
A sign can be? Iconic
resembling its referent. baring teeth (like biting)
A sign can be? indexical
pointing to its referent. animal tracks
A sign can be? Symbolic
arbitrarily linked to its referent. words of human language
signals
Signs that trigger a reaction in the receiver
symptomatic
Signs that are not used intentionally for communication.
Signs may or may not be used intentionally for communication.
graded
varying in degree only ex cat’s meowing varies with feelings of urgency
discrete
varying in category
An array of signs may be either?
graded or discrete
Interchangeability
all members of the species can both send and receive messages.
Feedback
users are aware of what they are transmitting.
Specialization
the system is used only for communication.
Semanticity
the system conveys information through fixed relationships among signifiers, referents, and meanings
Arbitrariness
no natural/inherent connection between signifier and signified
Discreteness
system consists of isolable, repeatable units
Displacement
can refer to remote entities or events
Productivity
new messages on any topic can be produced at any time
Duality of patterning
meaningless units combine to form arbitrary meaning-bearing signs
Tradition
some aspects of the system are acquired from other individuals
Prevarication
users can talk nonsense or lie
Learnability
users can learn other variants
Reflexivity
the system can be used to discuss the system itself
Design features of human language
Interchangeability Feedback Specialization Semanticity Arbitrariness Discreteness Displacement Productivity Duality of patterning Tradition Prevarication Learnability Reflexivity
Human language vs Animal communication
- Animal studies provide little comparative evidence for the gradual evolution of human language.
- None of our close genetic relatives have anything like human language.
stimulus-bound
Animal communication has this, triggered by exposure to a particular stimulus. Human language need not be linked to a present (or indeed any) stimulus.
what does “the bee dance” reflect?
reflects the distance, direction, and quality of a food source
signs are partly symbolic; however, they are innate, and tightly limited in function
critical period
In some species of songbirds (the chaffinch), appropriate input within a critical period is necessary for full development of a song
dialect variations in animals
songbird species show dialect variation that depends on input, not genetics. also been found in dolphins (including orcas) and some primates.
Individual variation
Birdsong shows individual variation in sound combinations. no evidence that the different combinations have different meanings.
partly discrete and arbitrary communication
In some species (e.g. vervet monkeys, chickens, prairie dogs. experience necessary to refine the categories of stimuli that elicit the various responses
vervet monkeys
different signs for different predators (snakes, eagles, etc). not concrete that these art a coincidence
song birds
dialect variations but the vocal repertoire itself is fixed. no evidence that different ways of combining the same sounds have different meaning. signs produced may be symptomatic (unintentional).
Higher apes
show little evidence of producing discrete signs. appear to have abstract concepts and a rich social organization, but their vocal repertoire does not seem to reflect this
Can monkeys learn to speak?
lack a descended larynx and other physiological properties of the human vocal tract, so they have difficulty articulating human speech
Washoe
A chimpanzee that learned to produce about 130 signs over three years, and was claimed to produce spontaneous combinations like BABY IN MY CUP
dressage
picking up cues from trainers; or memorizing sequences without acquiring generative rules (apes)
Kanzi
a pygmy chimpanzee that uses some word order rules, e.g. Agent-Action (MATATA BITE), Action-Patient (GRAB MATATA)—but only inconsistently. syntax may be uniquely human
