Animals and Language free essay sample

Birds, bees, bats, apes, worms, even humans have a communication system. We all share the art of language in one form or another. Some scientists say that language is what sets humans apart from every other species. Other researchers wonder if animals can learn the human language. What sets us apart from animals? What set us apart are the rules and grammars that we human have, which makes it not possible for animals to learn the human language. Another factor that contributes to why animals cannot learn human language or why people believe they do is due to the anatomic structure of animals and also due to operant conditioning. These factors will prove why animals cannot learn language. Many animals use gestures, grunts, dances, whistles, or even cry to send a message to their other members. Humans have an unbounded discrete combinatorial system. We are able to take many morphemes, combine them together to make other meaningful words. Also, humans have rules and structures which enable us to make sentences. Even with American Sign Language, this language has its own structures and rules. Most animals, such as chickadees, bees’ bats, and other types of birds, are bounded animals. These animals cannot construct new messages. Their way of communication is either through calling or singing. Another example would be the honeybees. Honeybees communicate through dancing. It is evident to show that honeybees do have a discrete combinatorial system. Honeybees are able to put together different dances to convey a message but they are bounded. Animals that have discrete structures are bounded and those that are bounded are discrete. A study was done on an African Grey parrot named Alex. He was taught many symbols, colors, and numbers. Alex did not have that intelligibility to construct long sentences. Alex had the same intelligence of that of a five year old. His level of intelligibility remained constant. After early attempts to teach chimpanzee’s oral language, many researchers such as Gardners researchers have turned to sign language. The Gardners raised a chimp named Washoe and tried teaching her sign language. As time progressed, Washoe had acquired roughly around 160 signs. Once Washoe learned a certain sign, she used that sign to ask for more of what she wanted. For example, the sign she learned to ask for more tickling was the same sign she used to ask for more food or to play. Sarah was another chimp that was taught language by using symbols to represent a word or meaning. Because the symbols were right in front of her face, Sarah was able to arrange the symbols to make some sort of sentence. When Sarah was not given her signs, she was mute, unable to communicate. Nim was also a chimp who was taught language. As he grew, his sentences were still that of a 2-3 year old child. Also Nim was able to learn through imitation. Most of his language came from imitating his teachers. Through imitation, chimpanzees were also able to learn language. In the article, How Nim Chimpsky Changed My Mind, Terrace stated that Nims length of utterances recorded when he was 22 months remained constant. Terrace also stated after Nims return from New York, the average length of Nims utterance was between 1. 1 and 1. 6 signs. As Nim grew, his utterance did not increase like that of a child. One major reason why apes are not able to produce speech is due to the anatomic structure of their vocal folds. The human vocal folds are low in the neck, whereas the vocal folds of apes are high in the neck just like that of a newborn baby. Because our larynx is lower in the neck, humans are able to make speech possible by allowing greater diversity of vowels to contract in our vocal folds. We humans may believe that the chimpanzees are able to understand grammar and are able to use it correctly but they do not. Psychologist Terrace stated that what seemed like a conversation from humans point of view was actually an attempt for the chimpanzees to communicate â€Å"their demand quickly†. Through research, it is evident to see that animals cannot learn language. If they do learn language, they do so due to operant conditioning. If a researcher rewards a chimp for every time that chimp or animal is grammatically correct, that animal will always use that sign, symbol, etc. o obtain his/her reward. No one can say or it has not been proven that animals can learn a language. Washoe and Nim signed to obtain a reward. Alex, the parrot, was rewarded nuts when he performed a task. Rico, the Border collie was also rewarded when he fetched the right item. Because of operant conditioning, many animals familiarize themselves with items they are asked to point out or fetch. Wit hout operant conditioning of some sort, many animals that have been studied would not have learned language. So can animals learn language? Yes they can depend what definition of language you apply. It is proven to see that animals can learn vocabulary. Alex the parrot learned many vocabulary words; Washoe and Nims also learned words through ASL. Children are not taught language, they acquire it. In the case of animals such as Kanzi, Nim, Washoe and other species, these animals have to be taught explicitly. They have to be taught either directly or indirectly. Even after being taught, they may produce complex meaningful communication combination but they will not possess full blown language structures and rules that we human possess. References