Bio context language

LANGUAGE: IN ITS BIOLOGICAL CONTEXT MohdEzraf bin MohdLizan* HotanKheyrandish* Leonardo David Ng* Brandon Chai An Weng* ArismanSrithadan linguistics for language teachers TESL Program, University Of Malaya October 2010 Dr. Jessie Grace U. Rubrico, Facilitator

LANGUAGE IN ITS BIOLOGICAL CONTEXT 1. Introduction 2. Natural Communication Systems of other Animals Common Signs in Communication Systems of Humans and Animals Natural Comm. Systems of Selected Species i) Bees iii) Vervet Monkeys ii) Birds iv) Apes 3. Teaching human language to animals Dog’s Understanding of Human Language Apes Teaching ASL to Chimpanzees Teaching Chimpanzees to Use Tokens or Keys Evaluation of Apes’ Language Abilities

LANGUAGE IN ITS BIOLOGICAL CONTEXT 4. Origins & Evolution of human Language Divine Origins & the ‘Original’ Human Tongue 19th Century Theories of Language Origins More Recent Theories:- i) Gestural Origins ii) The Grooming Hypothesis iii) Language as a Genetic Predisposition iv) Language & Social Cognition v) Concluding Remarks on Language Evolution 5. Conclusion

Introduction Status of language in relation to communicative systems employed in the non-human animal world: is language unique to human? A system without precedents in the biological world with a possibility of genetic mutation or an evolutionary development. Description of some communication systems used in the animal world. Evaluate natural animal communication systems that satisfy the design feature of human language.

[object Object],- human language in relation to the natural communication systems of other animals. - the ability of animals to learn and use human language Natural Communication Systems of Other Animals

Commonalities of Signs in Communication Systems of Humans and Animals Certain bodily signs indicating emotions are shared among humans and animals. Examples: Submission; Intimidation; Deliberate Deception Vocalizations

Bees Two types of dances to convey information about the location of nectar sources. ,[object Object]

Tail-Wagging Dance (some distance away from hive) Natural Communication Systems of Some Animal Species

most birds have system of communication employing vocalization many birds also communicate by non-vocalized sounds such as beak clapping, by visual displays of objects, or dance. Types of vocalizations : calls; songs Birds

Signal between parent and offspring

Make out territory cultural transmission ,[object Object]

Show dialect variation in their songs,[object Object]

Vervetmonkeys also have vocalization that inform about monkeys emotion: Low-pitched chatter expresses an aggressive threat. A woof subordinate males indicates submission. The vocalization of vervet monkey appears to be arbitrary

Apes also have system of communication that include vocalized and non-vocalized signs, including bodily gestures #Gestures communication is better developed and more flexible in apes than vocalization apes

Intentional gesture in natural communication of chimpanzees Attention attractor a gesture in natural communication with other Stylized gesture signifying an incipient or desired action

TEACHING HUMAN LANGUAGE TO ANIMALS Dogs’ understanding of human language (Non-Primate) APES (Primate Species) i) Teaching ASL to Chimpanzees ii) Teaching Chimpanzees to Use Tokens or Keys iii) Evaluation of Apes’ Language Abilities

TEACHING HUMAN LANGUAGE TO ANIMALS Animals comm. systems fail to comply with Hockett’s design features of human language. *Arbitrariness - A property of word-signs. *Displacement - Possibility in which language could only be used to describe what is actually physically present in the writer’s environment. *Cultural Transmission – Environment effects on language learning.

*Duality - Level of form and level of meaning. *Productivity - Ability to make new meanings by new expressions and utterances. *Reflexivity – Language as a medium to convey information.

Dogs’ understanding of human language Investigation conducted by Juliane Kaminski; Rico, (9-year-old border collie) with approximately 200-word ‘vocabulary’ (in German) Able to learn the name of unfamiliar toys after just one exposure to the new word-toy combination. Showing skills at language comprehension that comparable to trained apes, dolphins, sea lions and parrots.

Ability to acquire Fast-Mapping. Rico knows words for over 200 different items and fetches its when instructed. (Kaminski et al. 2004) Eliminating the ‘Clever Hans’ effect; Rico was to fetch 2 items randomly selected from the 200 that the dog was allegedly familiar with from an adjacent room. Rico could rapidly learn names of unfamiliar toys; performed accurately in fetching items, 7 out of 10 attempts.

CONCLUSION Do dogs understand language? The answer is NO! 200 words is just not enough to compare with the rich lexicons of human language. Rico’s understanding of words for objects are only based on ‘fetching’. ‘Smart dog learns like a child.’ Sept.2001 (Fischer-Planck Institute, Scientist)

Primate Species: APES The most serious attempt to teach human language to animals. Early attempts were resounding failure. 1920s, Robert Yerkes proposed sign language after unsuccessful attempt. 1930s, Winthrop and Luella Kellogg acquired a 7yo chimp. ‘Gua’; brought up like a human child and understand over 70 words but never spoke.

Late 1940s, Keith and Cathy Hayes acquired Viki to teach English. After 3 years, she can only say – mama, papa, cup & up; recognized over 100 words. ALL FAILED: Physiological Reasons! Human Vocal Tract-Short jaw, rounded tongue, lowered larynx with right angled bend. Adapted for speech. Apes / Chimpanzees-lack of these adaptation and high front (i) & back vowels (u) are outside of their range. Vocalization are largely involuntary.

i) Teaching ASL to Chimpanzees *American Sign Language

ii) Teaching Chimpanzees To Use Tokens & Keys Systems of arbitrary signs made up of plastic tokens or keys on keyboards labelled with simple symbols. Examples: X = chocolate, = banana Replaced by light-up keys on computer keyboards & symbols on portable keypad. FINDINGS: Longer Utterances:- Repetition with no attempt to elaborate or reformulate messages.

iii) Evaluation of Apes’ Language Abilities The use of signs by apes are not equally comparable to human language. Fail to satisfy two of Hockett’s design: Duality of Patterning & Reflexivity. Apes are more prone to interrupt utterances by their trainers. (Repetition) Rarely initiate communicative acts. Overall; human language differs from animal communication system in degree rather than kind. (Cognitive Mechanisms)

Bio context language

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