FRANS de WAAL: language and cognition (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, May 27, 2019, 18:38 (2006 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw:I’m a great fan of de Waal’s, but this is a subject that depends totally on definition. If by language you mean a sophisticated system of words and syntax, you can almost say we are the only linguistic species. If by language you mean a method of communication (as in expressions like animal language, bird language, dolphin language, ape language), all species are “linguistic”. I said “almost” above, because the example of the vervet monkeys shows a clear similarity to human language: they make sounds which distinguish between different animals – so you might just as well call those sounds words. Infinitely less sophisticated, but following the same principle as human language: sounds used to convey meaning.

By expanding the word linguistic to include all meaningful sounds you are correct. My dog is no different than the monkeys. He barks (warning), he growls (beware, back off), he howls (I'm lonely), etc.

Now Monkey howls for eagles is used to warn of drones:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2204402-monkeys-use-their-eagle-call-to-warn-each-...

"How do you teach a monkey new tricks? Lab trials have proved difficult places to train monkeys to distinguish between sounds and take different actions in response.

"But in the forests of Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park, researchers were astonished at the speed one species of monkey adapted its behaviour to a new sound.

"Julia Fisher and her team flew drones over one community of green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) in the area, to see what they made of a new flying object in their environment. They responded instantly, making alarm calls to warn one another of the prospect of a new threat.

" The vocalisations were distinct from the ones they made in response to models of leopards and snakes, but almost identical to calls made by a related species of monkey in response to eagles. The results suggest a hard-wired response to the perception of an aerial threat and the use of that specific call. (my bold)

"The monkeys adapted so quickly to the new noise that they began scanning the skies and making the calls even when played a sound of the drone from the ground.

"The monkeys were never seen issuing alarm calls to birds of prey in the area, suggesting the birds they usually see are not considered a threat. The drones, however, seemed to be perceived as dangerous.

“'It’s certainly disconcerting, unpredictable, something they’ve not seen before, so it makes sense to alert everybody,” says Fisher.

"She says she was “blown away” by how rapidly the monkeys appeared to learn. “The listeners are smart. It’s almost impossible to get a monkey in a lab to do an audio task.” It is not clear why such learning is harder in a lab environment, she says."

Comment: An automatic response, as noted in the bold above. The problem in the lab is easily explained: in the wild is dangerous, the lab isn't. With wild mustang horses, as soon as they realize how they are cared for with easily obtained food and water, they become very docile and cooperative.