Lecture 26 Flashcards
Why is studying complex cognition in animals difficult?
Studying complex cognition in animals is difficult because we must: overcome anthropocentricity, define cognitive processes, determining quantitative (can do it but at lower level) or qualitative differences (done using a different process).
What is language?
Language is a special type of communication, but there is no definitive deinition for when communication becomes using a language. Such definitions for language often include: learning a set of abstract or arbitrary symbols, using these symbols to express thoughts or to indicate objects and events that may or may not be present, learning rules associated with the order of these symbols, syntax can be used to generate different meaninful sentences.
can non humans communicate? Can humans communicate with non-animals?
Non human animals do communicate, they use smells, sounds, gestures to exchange information. Humans communicate with other species but these forms of communication are not normally considered languages due to not having extended vocabulary.
What is the problem with chimpanzee studies and human speech? How was this solved?
The problem with chimpanzee studies is that they grow fast and grow strong, this means language studies with them have been difficult. They are also not anatomically suited for human speech. This meant that sign language started being used as it was much simpler for chimps to use. They found that one word was learnt at a time and fewer naming and more action words were learnt than for human children, by four years she could produce 160 signs, although 2 to 3 word combinations occured there was little evidence of syntax.
What were some problems with Nim’s sign language?
Some problems with Nims sign language were low amounts of morphemes (words) per utterance, Nim’s communication was much less informative than human children, no evidence of syntax and many signings seemed cued by the human teacher.
What is another good ape for language study?
Bonobos are a good ape for language training, kanzi was found to understand about 500 human words and 200 symbols. Kanzi also showed some grasp of syntax.
