Human Language And Animal Communication

Human Language And Animal Communication

Introduction

Firstly it is important to distinguish what is meant by 'human language' and 'animal communication'. By providing definitions for both in my opening section I will then be able to go onto compare their similarities and differences. Throughout this essay I will refer to the design features of language and by comparing animal communication behaviours to them I will be able to show the extent to which human language and animal communication are similar or different.



Defining Communication and Language

Communication can be defined as when "...the action of or cue given by one organism [the sender] is perceived by and thus alters the probability pattern of behavior in another organism [the receiver] in a fashion adaptive to either one both of the participants" (Wilson 1975, p.111). Both humans and animals are able to communicate.



Communication can be split into two categories: informative and communicative signals. Informative signals are signs sent unintentionally, for example a human could talk fast to show nerves. Animals can display this behavior too, for example an antelope running away from a lion would indicate it is frightened. Communicative signals are intentional forms of communication by telling someone 'I am a student' you are intentionally telling them that you are a student. In animals, by barking a police dog is intentionally telling the police to check a person.



The Oxford English Dictionary defines language as a "system of human communication".

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