Language 1

language - def

a system of communication, using symbols, that enables its users to express feelings, thoughts, ideas and experience

2 important components of language is

communication and symbols

communication

exchange of info. between 2 entities

symbols

things that stand for smth else

EX: of symbols

the word “food” stand for eatable items

Our language is sometimes mentioned as

the cognitive function that makes us human unique

But, other organisms can

use language as well

other organisms use of language: Dog

uses symbols to communicate

• approval → wagging tail

• warning → growling (mouth open showing teeth)

other organisms use of language: Plant

uses symbols to communicate

• plant signaling and behavior

  • VOC (compound) released by injured plants

  • their family plants receive the VOC message and start their defense mechanism

There are 2 properties of human language that are exceptional (unusual) but not unique

symbols that we use can be arbitrary and we can communicate different time/space

human language uses symbols that can be arbitrary meaning

words (symbols) we use don’t have an inherent or nature connection to what they represent

EX: of symbols as arbitrary

The “sounds” or “ letters” that make up word (like “dog”) have no natural or logical connection to the actual furry animal it refers to

different language use different symbols (words) for the same thing (which is still arbitrary)

• English: dog

• Japanese: inu

• Spanish: perro

when compare to dog

their symbols often have a clear link with the message they convey (not arbitrary), ex: warning → growling (showing the very same teeth that would bite you)

Human language usage of symbols that can have arbitrary meaning is exceptional but not unique bc

other animal like some monkey species can also communicate using arbitrary sounds

Monkey makes arbitrary sounds to warn for

different kinds of predators (different sounds indicate different predators)

But the different sounds seems to have no

link to properties of those predators (so arbitrary as well)

Great Apes, Kanzi, learned to memorize many arbitrary symbols

randomly chosen by the experimenters

In human language, we can communicate about a time and space, ex:

Columbus landed in the Bahamas about 5 centuries ago

other animals usually can only communicate about here and now, ex:

some monkey makes arbitrary sound “pyow” to indicate that there is a leopard here now!

even tho human language can tell different time and space, it

isn’t unique

other animal like Bees can also tell time and space thought their

waggle dancing

waggle dance can help

bee express to other bees where food can be found. other bees understand the language and fly straight to the food source

waggle dance process

waggle along a straight line, then turn back to the beginning, and then repeat this over again

duration of the waggle part (in the middle) →

distance to the food source

Angle of waggle relative to vertical line (the sun) →

direction towards the food source relative to where the sun is

Bees can communicate in this way about food that’s

miles away!