Nonhuman Primate Communication That Humans Learn Their Language Socially

Non-human primates’ communication based on a limited range of sounds and gestures. Human communication is far more focused on the use of oral sounds. The human voice and non-human primate vocalizations are characterized by important differences. Our speech is radically different from other sounds used by non-human primates to communicate. Vocal perception abilities through conspecific vocalizations are important in social interactions. Only human possess speech perception to communicate in a highly efficient manner (Belin, 2006). Human and non-human primates’ vocalization differs in the morphology of the vocal apparatus and acoustic structure (Fitch 2000, 2003). Primates such as monkeys possess vocal folds in the vocal tract which are absent in humans (Schon Ybarra 1995). The larynx in the vocal tract of human is much lower compared to the non-human primates. The lowered larynx allows the increase of flexibility of the tongue and thus yielding a large range of frequencies. In contrast, higher larynx leads to inflexibility of the tongue thus limiting the non-human primates’ ability to yield acoustically distinct sounds through their vocal tract (Belin, 2006). In addition, non-human primates do not use their tongue to modify the shape of the vocal tract for the production of sound. The distinct production of human speech involves

Some apes are able to communicate intelligently with humans effectively. This is shown in a video clip from 60 Minutes where Ross Coulthart interviews Penny Patterson, caretaker of an ape known as Koko. Patterson attained her PhD in psychology from Stanford University in 1972 and has worked with Koko ever since. She says that she has taught Koko how to sign one-thousand words and that Koko is able to understand an additional two-thousand. Coulthart mentions in the video clip that Koko has also created her own signs. For example, she did not know how to sign the word ring, so she signed “finger bracelet” instead; she also called a mask an “eye hat.” When she didn’t know how to sign a word, she created her own sign to be able get her point across. This shows that apes are not simply doing what their caretakers are telling them to do to receive treats, but instead are actually communicating and can comprehend what they are signing. Coulthart also explains why there are still many people in the scientific community

“Chimpanzees have been found to extensively and flexibly use gestural communication, even developing novel gestures in new situations” (Larsen, 210). They show different communicative responses specific to their groups and regions. This indicates that vocal features can be transmitted through social learning. Chimpanzee mothers and infants communicate through distinct vocalizations and gestures (Hirata, 2009). In 2008, Hirata observed several interactions between mothers and infants in captivity. When infants were still young and immature, mothers would help their infants move. When the mothers walked long distances in situations that their young would have trouble traveling alone, the mother would communicate with her infant and they would travel together with the mother carrying the infant. For example, before even traveling one mother stretched out her hand toward her offspring who was somewhat far from her. The infant then approached its mother to take her hand and the mother cradled the infant and moved from one spot to another while carrying her infant. Hirata indicated that mothers will determine the goal of travel in advance and proceed by carrying their young if it is necessary. This is done through communication in advance using several types of gestures and vocals. The range of gestural communication is greater compared to facial and vocal signals.

     The cultural transmission of a communication system through learning is a fundamental attribute of language. Trained chimpanzee’s Washoe and Lucy have tried to teach Ameslan to other animals, including their own offspring. Washoe has taught gestures to other chimps at the institute where she is, including her son, Sequoia, who died when he was very young. There has been other cases of cultural transmission from chimp to chimp.

First, we have to look at what it means to be a human. Humans can reason with each other, communicate through talking, and much more. This has become apparent in non-human primates as well. Primates do not have a language like humans where it is a combination of verbal and non-verbal gestures, however, they communicate with each

Language is a form of communication and can be portrayed in many different ways not just vocalization, this is shown by those that use sign language rather than vocalization; these humans still have complex language but they lack the necessary organs or capabilities to produce all of the sounds needed for vocal language; similarly, some non-human primates use different interactions as language not just production and combinations of sounds. Non-human primates do not have the ability to vocalize the way humans do because they lack vocal cords, control of the necessary vocalization, and other speech organs, but that does not mean that they cannot effectively communicate through language with other non-human primates or with humans as well.

One reason that i believe that animals can learn and use language is that scientists have shown that they can. In the article “Speaking Bonobo”, scientists were able to teach Kanzi, a bonobo, actually learned how to communicate using various symbols. He along with seven other bonobos are now living inside of a house where they use what they have been taught to do what humans would consider normal day-to-day activities, like using the microwave and opening doors. The bonobos are shown to be able to reach stage four of the language spectrum when Kanzi and his sister actually communicated vocally with each

Most primates communicate through a lot of ways, one of them being vocalization. Vocalization in primates have a range of functions, but some vary in contexts. For example, vocalization between one primate and another primate can differ greatly from communication between one group and another group. Of all primates, the only species to have developed speech are humans. Another form of communication is the use of symbols and hand gestures. Although apes use symbols, this provides insight on their cognitive abilities. In particular, there have been various recent studies on nonhuman primates and how they show a high level of complexity in linguistics, which is similar to humans. We study primate communication and their behavior to get a better

The first topic addressed in this book that I will focus on is the social behavior of apes, specifically on courting rituals and mating behavior, such as the love dance performed by the “humans” in the novel. The second topic is the (in)capability of apes to produce human speech. In the novel, the apes all speak human language, but in reality, this is not a likely possibility.

“What makes us human?”, is an unanswered question asked by many. Is it because of our ability to have empathy for others? Or is it because of our cognitive ability which allows us to look into the future? One of the main arguments made that separates humans from animals is our communication style; our language. Is language inherently unique to human? To answer such a question, we first operationally define language as; “a system of communication based upon words and the combination of words into sentences” (University of Oslo). The purpose of language is for us to be able to convey an infinite amount of ideas to one another. Sign language in general also falls under this definition as it has a complex system of rules and syntax that allow the signed figures to function as words. Animal communication on the other hand, is operationally 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 1987). With this in mind, current research has shown that the answer is that language is inherently unique to humans.

The second video of ‘Robert Seyfarth: Can Monkeys Talk? (napisy PL)4 is the second closest to human language. The vervet monkey of East Africa have different vocal noises that mean different things. There were three calls that are expressed in the video: one for if they saw a Leopard, one for if they saw an eagle and one for if they saw a snake. After each call, the monkeys reacted differently. All the monkeys reacted exactly the same to each call. These are calls that all vervet monkeys can understand. They may be basic calls and sounds, but they are very effected by keeping the monkeys alive. All the monkeys are aware of the calls mean, and it is something that they can understand instantly and even from a distance. – This is most likely

Like human beings, animals also communicate among themselves through gestures and body movements. Monkeys always carry their

An intelligent young monkey from the Indianapolis Zoo has been reported to be able to imitate the “pitch and tone of human sounds,” said by his handlers. This noteworthy 11-year-old orangutan is named Rocky, and he can produce sounds that can be made out as the letter “A” and is heard as “Ah.” Robert Shumaker, the director of the zoo, has stated,“What we have to consider now is the possibility that the origins of spoken language are not exclusively human…” Through this statement, we can see that this discovery with Rocky may indicate that the origins of spoken language could have begun by the great apes. There is no definite answer to whether or not the spoken language did start with monkeys. However, I believe that this could be a possibility.

The claim, humans are the only animal that can acquire language has been the subject of much debate as scientists have investigated language use by non-human species. Researchers have taught apes, monkeys, parrots and wild children with various systems of human-like communication. Thus, one might ask, what is human language? According to Ulla Hedeager, A universally accepted definition of language or the criteria for its use does not exist. This is one of the reasons for the disagreement among scientists about whether non-human species can use a language. In nature, researchers find numerous types of communication systems, several of which appear to be unique to their possessors, and one of them is the language of the human species. Basically, the purpose of communication is the preservation, growth, and development of the species (Smith and Miller 1968:265). The ability to exchange information is shared by all communication systems, and a number of non-human systems share some features of human language. The fundamental difference between human and non-human communication is that animals are believed to react instinctively, in a stereotyped and predictable way. Generally, human behavior is under the voluntary control,

If you have a pet like dog, you will think it knows us. They know our expressions and they always can give us a comfort when we are in terrible situation. I think a lot of people often think about do animals know humans’ language? I want to discuss about Do animals have ability to learn language and what is the difference between human language and animal language.