Chapter 2: Animals and Human Language

Question 1

communicative signals

Answer 1

intentional conveyance of information

“i am a heart surgeon”

Question 2

informative signals

Answer 2

often unintentional transmission of information

twitching/fidgeting -> uneasiness; accents -> where you’re from

Question 3

reflexivity

Answer 3

humans can clearly reflect on language and its uses

“i wish he didn’t use so many technical terms”

Question 4

displacement

distinct property of language

Answer 4

relate to events removed from current time/place; discuss imaginary things/places/ideas

Question 5

arbitrariness

distinct property of language

Answer 5

connection between word and meaning is often “unnatural”

why does the word “dog” mean what it does?

Question 6

cultural transmission

distinct property of language

Answer 6

the process whereby a language is passed from one generation to another

Question 7

productivity/creativity

distinct property of language

Answer 7

potential number of utterances in any human language is infinite

continued creation of words/sounds

Question 8

duality/double articulation

distinct property of language

Answer 8

large number of sound combinations that are distinct in meaning

bin vs nib

Question 9

why can’t animals understand human language?

Answer 9

they may associate a sound with behavior, but cannot understand the word conceptually