Edith Castro

Lucas/Ares
BH/ Investigation 6
1 February,2018

Investigation 6
Over time scholars come across many questions in one’s lifetime, one of them are that
how does language make us different? Human may have its similarities to animals but our
languages are unique since we can communicate an infinite number of ideas, we can create
phrases without limits, and we can refer to things that are not temporarily. For example; how
bees use dance to convey information about the location of nectar, chimpanzees and baboons
using Lexigrams, and how birds use song to communicate among each other.

Human communication and language differentiates from the communication that bees
use, they are mainly based on finding the location of pollen and the location of beehives by
complicate dance. This form of communication was “discovered over 70 years ago by Karl von
Frisch, an Austrian zoologist.”(Karl von Frisch, 1973). He had noted that bees form of
communication was “ By orienting their dance in relation to the position of the Sun” (Karl von
Frisch, 1973). Bees have at least two essential forms of dance, ““A circle dance and tail-
wagging dance- to tell other bees where to find food.”(Karl von Frisch, 1973). Bees rely on
complex dances To communicate different messages similar to us however, bee communication
is confined into a single purpose: the location of nectar and to communicate to the rest of the
hive where it is found.They use this basic necessity to depict the location of food yet it is not the
same as language since it is not compose of symbols that can be rearranged to form sentences
that humans can only understand. Animal communication makes them different from humans
since it can be limited to a single purpose, compared to human communication that can have a
wide variety of purposes. Language is a part of our evolution as a form of collective learning that
we have developed over time from our early ancestors.

Many believe that chimpanzees and humans share a similar form of communication and
language however is that really the case? Some researchers believe that is not the case. Take
for example, “In the Planet of the Apes movies, apes and chimpanzees can talk. In the real
world, apes and chimps can’t talk. They have thinner tongues and a higher vocal box than
people.” (Language Development In Chimpanzees And Human Children, 2005). Researcher
Jane Goodall states that,“Sometimes when watching chimpanzees, I have felt that, because
they have no human-like language, they are trapped within themselves.”(Jane Goodall,1990).
Her numerous books and articles have changed our views on our understanding of chimps,
making many scholar rethink if there is true communication or language among chimpanzees. In
one study in finding a system of true communication, Rumbaugh claims that Kanzi, a bonobo
chimpanzee has manage to learn over 3,00 spoken words, “But many people argue that these
bonobos are simply skilled at getting what they want and their ability do not constitute
language.”( Paul Raffaele, 2006). Some claim that they are only skilled at getting what they
want and their abilities do not constitute a language. Since in return they either get food or
select food. This will only train them to find ways to only receive food by imitating their signs to
get rewards. Two examples are Washoe and Nim Chimpsky that researches had claimed they
had managed to learn over 100 ASL but in the end either trainers or others had concluded they
didn't learn a language but only imitated for food, “It would be wonderful if animals could say
things about the world, as opposed to just signaling a direct emotional state or need. But they
just don’t.”( Paul Raffaele, 2006). Animal communication is different from human communication
since animals tend to only use forms of communication to only get rewards like food despite
trainer attempting to have them learn ASL.

Another example of different use for communication is birds having their own form of
communication by using calls and songs.Birds have two sound signals: calls and songs, “These
calls seem to be instinctive responsive to danger,nesting,flocking, and a few other basic
situations.” (Edward Vajda, 2012).Besides instinctive responses, “Bird songs are used primarily
by males to attract mates or to establish territory. Bird songs are limited to these and only these
functions.”(Edward Vajda, 2012). Diving in more specifically,“ the English sparrow has three
flight calls. One call is used just before takeoff. Another call is used during flight. And one call is
used just before landing at a nesting site.”(Edward Vajda, 2012). Bird calls are limited unlike
humans which cannot be varied to produce variations of meanings or can be rearranged.
Humans tend to use communication as a way to request help, to inform others, and to share
attitudes as a way of bonding. Always altering and producing different variations of meanings.
Birds tend to only rely on sound when it comes to departing and arrival with a short simple call
at a time not allowing for any slight alteration. However human languages are flexible and with
our words we can create almost a limitless amount of phrases which makes us different from
other species.

Human may have its similarities to animals but our languages are unique since we can
communicate an infinite number of ideas, we can create phrases without limits, and we can
refer to things that are not temporarily. We are not limited to certain calls, nor do we only use
communication for solely on food. Humans use language to bond, or to request help. Human
language is very flexible and is constantly evolving, creating new words and phrases producing
an infinite set of sentences.