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Design features of a language
Symbolic; mostly non-iconic
Infinitely creative
Hierarchically-structured
Rule-governed
Spontaneously acquired by infants
Symbolic
A feature of language wherein symbols (words) represent ideas or concepts, mostly non-iconic.
Hierarchically-structured
Language is structured in levels, where smaller components combine to form larger grammatical units.
Rule-governed
Languages operate according to specific rules that guide the combination and structure of words.
Spontaneously acquired by infants
Children naturally learn their native language without formal instruction, facilitated by innate mechanisms.
Human language
A discrete combinatorial system allowing for an unlimited number and types of messages.
Discrete combinatorial system
A system where language elements can be combined in various ways to create new meanings.
Communication tied to immediate survival
Animal communication
Bee communication - Dance
Communicate the distance and location of food sources.
Infinitely variable but semantically limited.
Primate communication - East African Vervet Monkey
Unique calls for different predators
Combining innate and learned behaviors (refining when to use)
Symbolic, stimulus-bound (no displacement), and non-combinational (limited messages)
Ambiguous signals
Messages that can be interpreted in multiple ways, commonly found in human language
Innate communication systems
Many animal communication systems are instinctual and not taught or learned.
Bird communication - Calls vs. Songs
Calls- simple, serve immediate functions, innate
Songs- complex, for mating, innate
stimulus-bound (no displacement) and non-combinational (limited messages)
Complexity of vocalization
The level of complexity in vocalizations varies across species, affecting how they communicate.
Requests, jokes, poetry, sarcasm, lies, reports, threats
Examples of the wide range of messages that human language can convey, unlike animal communication which is narrowly focused
