LI 2023 Nathalie F. Martin

1
Animal Communication

• LI 2023 Nathalie F. Martin

2
Outline of Todays Class

• Today
• Animal communication
• References
• Introduction The Nature of Communication
• (chap. 1 Rowe Levine)
•  La communication et le langage 
•  Peut-on faire parler les singes? 

3
Homework for Today

• Create a glossary of these key-terms
• Communication
• Code
• Language

4
BEFORE WE START !!!

• How do animals communicate?
• Write down how you think animals communicate.
• At the end of the class, we will see how many you
  were able to find ?

5
Communication

• Communication is a behaviour, or the transmission
  of information, that affects the behaviour of
  others.
• When a living organism (or machine) communicates
  it sends messages about itself or its
  environment.
• The message is placed into a code.
• Humans have a highly elaborate code called
  language.

6
Animals and Human Languages

• All living beings can communicates certain types
  of information.
• But can we say that animals have linguistic
  abilities?
• We must be careful to distinguish communication,
  which is broad, from language, which is a
  certain type of communication.

7
Animal Communication

• Different means of communication used by animals
• Smell
• Light
• Electricity
• Color
• Posture
• Actions/movement
• Facial expressions

8
Perception and animal communication

• Animal communication is unconscious and
  non-deliberate.
• For example, if an animal lets out a cry in the
  presence of a predator, we automatically suppose
  that it is a reaction and not a deliberate desire
  to warn the other members of its species.
• Communication results of a stimuli.
• Produced only in reaction to a given situation.
• In other words, an animal would never seek to
  communicate if it wasnt enticed by something in
  its environment.

9
Perception and animal communication (2)

• Animal communication is understood as genetic.
• If an animal, like a monkey for example, emits a
  certain cry, it is because it has been
  genetically programmed to do so.
• Proof Many animals, like eels, have adapted to
  be able to communicate.

10
An example Bees

• Their communication system
• The distance is indicated by the type of
   dance 
• In circles, with movement of tale (waggle dance),
  and figure huit
• Direction is indicated by the orientation of the
  dance in light of the sun
• The quality of the given source of food is
  indicated by the speed of the dance.

http//www.youtube.com/watch?v4NtegAOQpSs
11
Dance of the Bees
12
Of Bees and Men

• A mix of symbolism and clues.
• Symbolic since the dances are not directly
  associated to the content they represent.
• Indicial (/?nd???l/) since they indicate the
  quality of the food by accelerating the dance.
• Limited
• There is only one subject/topic addressed by the
  message
• The information within the message is limited.
•  Code  is mainly genetic (and non cultural).
• Proof genetic (crossbreeding)

13
Communication and/or language

• But can we say that what animals possess is in
  fact what we refer to as language?

14
Can primates talk?

• The case of Koko
• And many other animals

15
Can humans make primates talk?

• What do you think? Can we make apes talk?
• The first experiments with primates seem to have
  shown us that primates can in fact adopt a form
  of human language
• (whether it be sign language of a similar
  system).

http//www.youtube.com/watch?vPmuu8UEi2ko
16
Can humans make primates talk? (2)

• 1- 1966 Allen Beatrice Gardner and Washoe
• They taught her Americain sign language (ASL)
• 4 years later, she uses 130 signs.
• They also affirm that she has spontaneously
  combined different signs that they have never
  taught her
• e.g.  bird   water  duck

ASL http//fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabet_dactyl
ologiqueComposition
17
Can humans make primates talk? (3)

• 2- David Premack and Sarah the chimpanzee.
• He decided to teach her a new language.
• This language is made up of symbols attached to
  magnets placed on a board.
• Sarah learns to manipulate symbols that are non
  iconic (non representative).
• After many years, she is able a manipulate many
  signs to answer questions.

18
(No Transcript)
19
Sceptics

• The success of there two studies opened the door
  for many researches, including Francine Patterson
  and Koko.
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vU64k_fA2Rcc
• By these studies are hindered by scepticism ...
• H. Terrace says that
• these studies do not show that into account
• syntax.
• these chimpanzees have been preconditioned.
• the true ability for language is lacking.
• Other researcher says that this study can be
  likened to the Clever Hans controversy.

20
The  Clever Hans  Controversy

• German school teacher, von Osten, in 1904
• Claims that his horse can think
• and communicate through clicking his heals or by
  nodding his head.
• Oskar Pfungst
• Explains this phenomenon  Clever Hans  is
  simply a good observer.

21
The  Clever Hans  Controversy (2)

• The horse
• Has a superior sensory perception
• Interprets the clues given by his master
  (involuntary movement of the head)
• Did not have the right answer when his master
  didnt know the answer or when the horse was
  blindfolded
• Therefore, the horse was simply trained
• in other words, it could read the clues given by
  his master.

22
Repercussions on the study of primates

• Many think that the positive results (in the
  study of apes) are the results of training.
• The humans want to animals to do well
• This is communicated to the animals through
  involuntary movements
• The animals perceive these messages
• The animals give the desired response.
• Therefore these animals are only trained.

23
And the studies continue ...

• In 1977, D. Rumbaugh teaches Lana an artificial
  language called Yerkish.
• Advantages there is therefore a certain
  distance between the scientist and the
  chimpanzee, since they speak via a computer and
  keyboard.
• This eliminates the clever Hans phenomenon!
• Get this
• the monkeys Sherman and Austin, that know
  Yerkish, teach one another the symbols to obtain
  food.

24
And the studies continue ... (2)

• In 1980, the bonobos chimps Kanzi et Mulika are
  exposed to speech, human gestures and Yerkish
• The goal is to imitate the manner in which human
  acquire language.
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vwRM7vTrIIis
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v2Dhc2zePJFE

25
And the studies continue ... (3)

• Results Kanzi learns 90 words in Yerkish with
  sentence manipulations (2800 combinations in all,
  90 of which were not taught by the instructor).
• Like a child, Kanzi shows natural linguistics
  abilities.
• His unexpected reactions and requests prove that
  he understands the meaning (and that it is not
  only a matter of training).
• Example Wash the hot dogs

26
So do primates really have access to human
language?

• A few conclusions

27
Do apes really have access to human language?
No, but we have learned that

• No, but we have learned that primates
• have access to a symbolic code, whether it be
  inate or learned through training
• Are able to name objects, not just ask for them
• Are sensitive to word order (syntax)
• Can create new sentence by changing word order
• Can use signs to communicate false information
• Who learn language profoundly modified
  behaviour and cognitive abilities.

28
Why dont primates who live in the wild talk?

• Primates are highly intelligent beings, who have
  developed complex social structures, and can
  manipulate tools so why cant they talk in a
  natural setting?
• Scientists think that primates have a specific
  intelligence, which short-circuits their access
  to a more evolved language.
• They are therefore unable to come to a stable
  consensus about the meaning of different signs
  and symbols that could serve are words.

29
Review Language, Languages and Speech
FRENCH ENGLISH
Language Language/ability
The innate ability to learn and produce language/code. Natural, universal and innate ability (amongst humans). The innate ability to learn and produce language/code. Natural, universal and innate ability (amongst humans).
Langue Language/code
A code or system, used by consensus. Ex different languages (French, English, Spanish, Greek, etc.). Collective (used within a language group, speakers of the language) A code or system, used by consensus. Ex different languages (French, English, Spanish, Greek, etc.). Collective (used within a language group, speakers of the language)
Parole Speech
The individual act of speaking (Concrete use of the language/code). Ex Please stop the bus! Individual. The individual act of speaking (Concrete use of the language/code). Ex Please stop the bus! Individual.
30
Back to Todays Challenge

• How do animals communicate?
• How do animals communicates?
• Communication and/or language
• Can we say that animals possess the ability to
  learn language?
• Do animals have the innate ability called
  language?
• Can they learn human language?

31
For Next Class

• What we will see
• Homework
• Reading
• Reminder

32
Have a nice day! God bless you! Now to him
who is able to keep you from stumbling and to
present you blameless before the presence of his
glory with great joy, to the only God, our
Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory,
majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time
and now and forever. Amen. (Jud 124-25 )
33
Matériel nécessaire

• Ce dont jai besoin pour ce cours
• Photocopies
• Affiches
• Livres
• Autres

34
Mise en situation
35
Battle of the Linguists

• Can primates learn a language?
• Do primate have the innate ability for language?
• Justify your answer.