Do animals use language?

Authors

Keywords:

animal language, animal communication, animal talk, animal linguistics, zoosemiotics

Abstract

The belief that only humans use language has dominated in science for years. Linguists are especially sensitive to the notion that animals can use or create language. They argue that all species other than human can communicate but they do not use language, as it is reserved for people only. It is important to notice that animal psychology is a new and still far underdeveloped scientific field. More and more studies are revealing that animals can and do think, feel and communicate in a meaningful way. Recently, new studies have supported the hypothesis that some animals do use language. The communication systems that they use have all or most of the characteristics of a language. Con Slobodchikoff has shown that prairie dogs have grammar, can create language and use dialects in their communication with one another. Their pups learn their language in a similar way as human babies do. This article is meant to question the notion that animals do not use and create language.

Author Biography

Barbara Rode, University of Warsaw

Mgr, doktorantka na Wydziale Polonistyki Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego (pod opieką naukową prof. Tadeusza Kalety – etologa z SGGW); interesuje się komunikacją wewnątrz- i międzygatunkową, zoopsychologią i zooterapią, psychologią, zaburzeniami mowy i komunikacji u osób z autyzmem i zespołem Aspergera, wpływem kontaktów ze zwierzętami na funkcjonowanie człowieka. Z zawodu nauczyciel (filolog języka angielskiego, metodyk), zoopsycholog – behawiorystka psów, dziennikarka, fotograf. Ostatnia publikacja: Przegląd najnowszych badań dotyczących dobrostanu i zachowania się psów („Życie Weterynaryjne” 2015, nr 10).

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Published

2017-12-24

How to Cite

Rode, B. (2017). Do animals use language?. Zoophilologica. Polish Journal of Animal Studies, (3), 129–142. Retrieved from https://trrest.vot.pl/ojsus/index.php/ZOOPHILOLOGICA/article/view/7123

Issue

No. 3 (2017): Zoophilologica - T.3 (2017) - Podmiotowość

Section

ARTICLES

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