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Advanced animal behaviour > Animal Semiotics > Flashcards

Animal Semiotics Flashcards

1
Q

definition of semiotics

A
  • the study/ theory of signs and sign processes, interested in the concept of information
  • close to linguistics, communication systems
  • aka as semiology
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2
Q

signs

A
  • any information-carrying entity
  • smallest unit of information or meaning
  • not necessarily ‘communitive’
  • can be communicative, representation or signification
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3
Q

semeion

A
  • Ancient Greek word meaning sign/mark- semiotics derived from
  • first proposed by Locke
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4
Q

how is information defined? (3)

A
  1. defined by its absence (absence is information in itself)
    - mathematics (concept of 0), Signal detection theory
    - detection process= absent vs. present
  2. defined by how a piece of info contrast with another (ex. stimulus in noisy environment vs. no stimulus –> can you discriminate the two?)
    - discrimination process- same or different
  3. defined by its lack of organization or structure (entropy, interference)
    - quality of transmission: channel, code, etc.
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5
Q

Umwelt- described by Jacob von Uexkull

A
  • world that animals live in and how they perceive it
  • ‘environment’, ‘surroundings’, ‘model of world for given species’

Ex. for humans it is visual, for dogs it is olfactory

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6
Q

Wirkwelt

A
  • the field of actual direct interaction between the organism and the environment
  • dimension is sensory-motor, perception-action
  • ‘sensing’
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7
Q

Merkwelt

A
  • way of viewing the world, specific perceptive field of given organism
  • dimension is perceptual ‘sensation’
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8
Q

Semiosphere

A

-where two (or more) umwelten interact

-Ex. wolf-human-raven
dogs can help track coyotes, but also can watch for scavenger birds (ravens) as will be near carcasses like coyotes
-symbiotic relationship between coyotes and ravens (food in trade for eyes in the sky)

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9
Q

Thomas Sebeok

A

founder of zoosemiotics

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10
Q

Heini Hediger

A

anthropological zoosemiotics- relationship between humans and animals

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11
Q

Name the three processes of semiotics

A
  1. communication
  2. representation
  3. signification
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12
Q

communication

A

both emitter/sender and receiver/recipient are involved, direct exchange
=focus of semiotics

ex. wolf threatens coyote at a carcass

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13
Q

representation

A
  • emitter is present, but receiver is absent (or not assumed)
  • not communication but still something going on
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14
Q

signification

A

-receiver is present, but emitter is absent/gone (or not assumed)

Ex. smelling of a scent mark
Ex. bears leaving claw marks on trees

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15
Q

source

A

emitter/sender of information

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16
Q

receiver

A

=recipient of information

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17
Q

channel

A

=sensory mode (modality used)

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18
Q

code

A

=structure (form)/ system of conventions

-related to syntax (rules that tell how structure works)

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19
Q

message

A
  • content (types: affiliative, agonistic, sexual, etc.) with potential meaning (want message to be clear)
  • relates to semantics
  • what sign encodes about sender
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20
Q

context

A
  • physical or social context
  • relates to pragmatics
  • important to be able to extract meaning
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21
Q

expression

A
  • how each syllable is expressed

- related to prosodics (tone of voice)

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22
Q

strengths of zoosemiotic perspective (4)

A

No assumptions about…

  1. ‘actual communication’ or interaction between individuals (emitter AND receiver)
  2. intentionality (on part of emitter)
  3. interpretation (on part of receiver)

historically, a behavioristic discipline -not about cognition

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23
Q

Weaknesses of the zoosemiotic perspective (2)

A
  1. The affective dimension or the affect issue
    - importance of emotions not clear, may be too subjective? (do animals have like humans)
  2. The conative dimension or the motivational issue
    - importance of incentives, motivational system
    - should give animals choices/ preference tests
    - question if they have shared motivations?
    - learned helplessness?
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24
Q

2 types of signs and describe

A
  1. signal= communicative purpose, meant to be decoded by others
  2. cues= non-communicative purpose (significant or representation), may not be aware of them
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25
Q

Signal

A

=carries information for COMMUNICATIVE purpose, meant to be decoded by others

  • assumption of intentionality, designed to influence behavior
  • identified emitter and receiver
  • at very least implicit
  • communicate something between sender and reciever
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26
Q

cues

A
  • non-communicative purpose (significant or representation), may not be aware of them
  • do not influence behavior per say (still carry info)
  • not controlled by emitter
27
Q

Non-communicative behaviours

A
  • intentionality is debated
  • non-communicative in traditional sense, may be unconscious (untargeted receiver, innate/ not cognitively controlled)
  • camouflage & mimicry
  • complex behaviours (eg. ritualized) evolved out of simple things and may have a level of meaning? Ex. courtship behaviors and urination postures
28
Q

semiogram

A
  • catalogue of signs/ marks/ cues left by animals (no observable behavior or actor)
  • consequence or result of the behavior
29
Q

Example of signs in the field?

A

tracks, shelters, beds, feces etc.

what animal leaves behind, important for specific or outside behaviour

30
Q

examples of signals in the field?

A

vocalizations, scent marks, displays

31
Q

examples of signals from the lab?

A

signalling in and from the brain

32
Q

examples of signs from the lab?

A

actions and movements are signs of brain activity

33
Q

index/ indexical signs or natural sign

A
  • spa-o-temporal correlation (contiguity)
  • no separation between the sign and meaning, is the actual thing, no correlation
  • natural sign–> pheromones left by a scent mark
  • can localize in time and space
  • long lasting message
34
Q

icon/iconic signs

A
  • clear similarity between object and sign (analogically linked)
  • representation
  • more specific and often ritualized (correlation between behavior and what trying to communicate)
  • ex. gestures, dances, mimicry, vocal imitation, sham behaviour (in deception)
35
Q

symbol/ symbolic or conventional sign

A
  • abstract communication, based on conventions
  • human only?? few animal cases
  • innate or learned is questioned
  • some level of abstractness

Ex. likely example is alarm calls identifying perpetrator
-degree of sociality may be important in some species

36
Q

what is the main concern regarding behavior for ethology and zoosemiotics?

A
  • the form/structure of behavior

- also concerned with context

37
Q

ethogram

A

repertoire and catalogue of behaviors/ actions

systematic observations

38
Q

what is the main concern regarding behavior for behavioral ecology and sociobiology?

A

the function of the behavior is focus, context is also important

39
Q

what is the main concern regarding behavior for animal psych and neuroscience?

A

The processes, mechanisms, and causation of behavior are main concerns

40
Q

Shear order issue (Lashly)

A

brains production of behavior not easily explained

41
Q

zoosyntactics

A
  • the rules and structure
  • motor behavior organized in non-random way
  • every behavior can be analyzed structurally
42
Q

zoosemantics

A
  • the meaning
  • the way behavior is perceived/ decoded is crucial
  • a lot is innate
43
Q

zoopragmatics

A
  • the purpose or the context
  • structure and syntax can sometimes be defined by context
  • Ex. dog play-fighting: very clear about intentions
44
Q

zooprosodics

A
  • the expression and modulation of behavior
  • humans can pick up visual patterns
  • there is musicality to behavior (flows like music)
45
Q

ethological zoosemiotics

A
  • sub discipline of zoosemiotics
  • related to or part of ethology
  • focus on animal behavior
46
Q

anthropological zoosemiotics

A
  • sub discipline of zoosemiotics
  • related to or part of anthrozoology
  • focus on the animal-human relationship (positive or negative)
47
Q

fundamental (pure) zoosemiotics

A
  • sub discipline of zoosemiotics

- theories and theory-telling

48
Q

descriptive zoosemiotics

A

-observational, involves systematic observations
-sub discipline of zoosemiotics
Ex. food catching sequence in wild canids

49
Q

Applied zoosemiotics

A
  • applied research and specific applications
  • sub discipline of zoosemiotics
    ex. semiochemicals using attractants and repellants
50
Q

vegetative level of communication (based on interaction)

A

physical presence affects behavior- limited communication

Ex. plants

51
Q

tonic level of communication (based on interaction)

A
  • chemical, motor, chromatic, metabolic stimuli
  • continuous or episodic processes
  • symbiotic relationships depend on this level of interaction

Ex. trailing and tracking in mammalian predators

52
Q

phasic level of communication (based on interaction)

A
  • broad and multichannel stimuli involved, discriminatory responses possible
  • discontinuous process
53
Q

signal level of communication (based on interaction)

A

-specialized structures producing (output) specialized stimuli for specialized receptors or sensory systems (input)

54
Q

symbolic level of communication (based on interaction)

A

-symbolic communication in gestures, facial expressions, vocalizations, etc. (not linguistic)

55
Q

linguistic level of communication (based on interaction)

A
  • language, as in ‘speech’

- humans

56
Q

Expressive (type of communication based on functions of signs)

A
  • expressing something, usually emotions or other complex internal states
  • orientated towards/ referred to emitter/ sender
57
Q

Conative (type of communication based on functions of signs)

A
  • Motivational
  • oriented towards receiver/ recipient
  • meant to influence behavior/ state of recipient/ receiver
58
Q

Phatic (type of communication based on functions of signs)

A
  • oriented towards the contact (relationship between emitter and receiver)
  • communicating something (unsure what- tactile, olfactory, vocal, etc.)

Ex. chorus howls in wolves before or after a hunt= ‘bonding’

59
Q

Referential (type of communication based on functions of signs)

A
  • oriented towards the content and context of the message
  • reference to context, something else brought in
  • signalling social status, where food is, etc.
60
Q

Metacommunicative (type of communication based on functions of signs)

A
  • oriented towards the code in act of communication (reflect code itself)
  • some say human only, but NOT

Ex. playing, deception, forms of ritualization

61
Q

Aesthetic (type of communication based on functions of signs)

A
  • oriented towards the message and its form

- produce for musical value of sound (typically in humans)

62
Q

Reflexive communication (HEBB)

A
  • most elementary form of communication

- reflex-like and ridged

63
Q

Purposive communication (HEBB)

A
  • flexible, for a specific goal

- when the consequence of the communicative act is crucial

64
Q

Lagrange (HEBB)

A
  • communication by a system of symbols

- symbols can be ordered and reordered (syntax) to change the meaning (semantics)

Advanced animal behaviour (7 decks)

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