FRANS de WAAL: language and cognition (Introduction)

by dhw, Tuesday, May 28, 2019, 09:50 (2008 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.

DAVID: 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.

Thank you for reproducing these interesting observations.

DAVID: 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-...

QUOTE: "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." (David’s bold)

DAVID: An automatic response, as noted in the bold above.

Surprise, surprise, the monkeys recognize danger when they see it, and actually use a different sound to indicate that this is a new source of danger. This is exactly how all forms of language work. And I’m sorry, but if these monkeys make a new sound, they are clearly not hard-wired to use that sound, regardless of whether the sound is “almost” the same as their neighbours’ vocabulary for “eagle”. And I would suggest that we are all “hard-wired” to respond to danger – it’s a rather important factor in the struggle for survival.