Verified Document

Do Non-Human Animals Have Language  Term Paper

Noam Chomsky's Language Criteria - Do Animals Have Language? Philosophers and scientists have long wondered whether animals were capable of communicating with each other in the form of language. However, research regarding both the cranial and cognitive capacity of higher mammals suggests that these animals are capable of many cerebral functions that used to be the purview of humans.

This paper argues that higher mammals like primates, dolphins and whales are capable of and have evolved a complex language of their own. Towards this, the paper looks at the recent research done regarding the "whistling" and other auditory communication among dolphins. In arguing that this "whistling" constitutes and fulfills the functions of language, the paper uses the framework on the syntactic structures and the various aspects of language. Through an application of Chomsky's criteria, this paper argues that dolphins have evolved a communication system made of whistling sounds that serve many of the purposes of human language.

Chomsky's functions of language

For Chomsky, human language is characterized first and foremost by structural principles like grammar, an underlying system of rules that govern the communication exchange. By understanding the rules that govern this communication, humans are able to develop a "creative ability" that allows them to speak or understand sentences that they have not heard previously (Chomsky 19-21).

Furthermore, the system of grammar is composed of "surface structures" like sounds and words. By employing the rules of grammar and interpretation, people are able to transform these sounds into meanings. They are also capable of converting their own meaning into sounds, to communicate with other human beings.

Aside from communicating needs, Chomsky believed that language allowed humans to express thoughts, establish friendships and other social ties and to transmit information to clarify abstract ideas (Chomsky 18).

Dolphin sounds

Many...

Much of the long-standing belief regarding the intelligence of dolphins are based on the ratio of a dolphin's brain to its body mass. In humans, the 3-pound brain generally makes up 2% of a person's total body weight. On average, dolphins have a brain mass of 3.5 pounds, giving them a brain-to-body ration of 1%. In comparison, chimpanzees -- considered the most intelligent primate -- have a brain-to-body ratio of only 0.7% (Suplee).
However, opinions continue to differ regarding the linguistic capability of dolphins in captivity and in the wild.

Captivity

The whistling sounds observed among dolphins have been the subject of scientific study since the 1950s. The early studies were funded by the United States Navy, which was interested in the potential military uses of trained dolphins. However, scientists like marine biologist Ken Norris observed that rather than making random whistling and clicking sounds, dolphins used rhythm and cadence to vary their sounds. Norris likens these rhythms to human speech, observing, "Just like cadences are very important in how we speak, we're finding that rhythmicities in dolphins and other marine mammals are very important in communication" (cited in Hume).

Further experiments proved that dolphins could communicate with humans as well. Louis Herman of the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory in Hawaii has taught two bottle-nosed dolphins to respond to hand signs and a rudimentary whistle language. Rather than merely responding to a set command of bring the ball," Herman found that the dolphin could learn separate symbols for each word. In addition, the dolphins also understood syntax and grammar, how word placement can affect the meaning of a sentence. Thus, the dolphins understand the difference between "bring the ball to the basket" and "bring the basket to the ball" (Hume).

By giving the…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Chomsky, Noam. Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origins, and Use. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1988.

Dolphin Whistles Offer Signs of Language Ability." New York Times, September 5, 2000: F2. Proquest Database.

Humes, Edward. "Navy Researchers see Marine Mammals' Potential to Perform Deep-sea Duty." Orange County Register, August 7, 1988: K01. Proquest Database

Suplee, Curt. "Dolphins May Communicate Individually; Exchange of 'Signature' Whistles in the Wild Suggests a Form of Language." The Washington Post, August 25, 2000: A3. Proquest Database.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Worth of Humans Vs Non Human Animals
Words: 2088 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

PEER RESPONSES 4Peer ResponsesPeer Reply 1 - David VelazquezAccording to Regan (1985), to be an experiencing subject of life simply means that someone has lived and experienced life. To further explain, it means that the subject has lived through emotions, suffered physically or mentally, felt pain, been happy and sad, and essentially everything that comes along with those things. He argues though that animals also have the same experiences, they

Human Interactions With Nonhuman Animals Should Be
Words: 1296 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

Human interactions with nonhuman animals should be guided solely by the impact of these interactions with other human beings, and not upon any perceived impact upon nonhuman animals themselves. This argument is based largely upon Descartes' understanding of the essential difference between humans and nonhuman animals. Descartes' argues that the body is external to the mind, and that non-human animals do not possess the pure, thinking mind of humans. Thus,

Language and Memory Issues the
Words: 936 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Stages of Language Production: While there is not necessarily a consensus among researchers as to the precise nature of human language production, one widely accepted view is the information processing approach (Robinson-Riegler, 422). In that framework, language production generally occurs in four specific stages: (1) conceptualization, (2) planning, (3) articulation, and (4) self-monitoring. In that regard, the conceptualization stage refers to the internal process whereby the individual develops the desire to communicate

Animal Rights Ethics and Morality
Words: 3748 Length: 12 Document Type: Term Paper

These abilities are inclusive of memory emotion, belief, desire, intentional actions and an awareness of the future. With these things being understood this theory asserts that mammals not only have physical bodies that are alive but they also function as psychological beings whose existence can get better or worse. Proponents of this theory argue that other mammals have this capacity even though they cannot use human language to articulate

Conflict Between Human and Non-Human:
Words: 1792 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

"The monkey's larynx, while quite distinct from that of the human being, is not as much so as that of parrots, which clearly can speak. As to their brains, the comparison with that of the latter banishes all doubts." As the narrator tries to teach the title ape to speak, he swears that Yzur takes on a more contemplative expression. The narrator compares the ape to "ancient men of

Animals Communications
Words: 1972 Length: 6 Document Type: Research Paper

Animal Communication may be defined as the transmission of a signal from one animal to another such that the sender benefits, on average, from the response of the recipient (Pearce). According to Robert Mannell this definition allows for the inclusion of many types of behavior and permits communication to be applied to a great range of animals. Natural animal communication can include chemical signals, smell, movement, posture, facial gestures, visual

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now