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UW-Madison LINGUIS 101 - Syntax Part 4
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Lecture 24Syntax part 4Is human language special?Many animals have communication systems, not just humansAre humans really unique in having “language”?What do we mean by “language”?Design features of languageMode of communicationYou have to have some way of decoding the signal, some mean or mode of communicating the signalEx: sign language, modality is visualAnimals have a wider variety of modality than humans, they use auditory (elephants), visual (fireflies), tactile –touch (dogs lick their pups to bond), chemical (skunks use their smell to deter predators)Semanticity- signals have meaningThat signal, whatever it is, is associated with a meaningHave to have these 2 to be a langueInterchangeability- speakers can both send and receive messagesHumans can both produce and perceive the signals of their languageSome animals canElephant or bat auditory communicationBut some cannotSilkworm moth chemical mating signal only produced by femalesWhistling moth auditory mating signal only produced by malesCulturaltransmission- exposure to language is required for developmentMost animal communication systems are entirely innate (no learning or exposure to input required)Cow birds raised by other speciesSome animals require input, possibly in critical period to acquire the communication system of their species, like humansKiller whales, chimps, finchesArbitrariness- form of single not directly related to its meaningMuch animal communication is iconicDog rolling over to show submissionBut some species have arbitrary signalsMale western fence lizard- dark blue indicates territorial ownership, light blue indicates not his territoryDiscreteness- decomposable messagesMost animal communication consists entirely of simplex “morphemes” which do not combine into larger units at allA very few have combinatorial systemsBee dances  pattern, vivavity, angleThese 4, some animal languages have some don’t, of course all human languages have themDisplacement- can discuss things not presentHuman language- ability to discuss items not present in the current environmentThat plum pudding we made for Christmas in 1978 sure was deliciousAnimal communication: no animal has displayed this ability in the wildProductivity- ability to produce infinite messages (recursion)Humans can produce and understand sentences they have never heard before, due in part to recursion in syntaxAnimal communication systems are closed systems: no recursion, no productivity or creativityThese 2, only human languages haveExample: primate communicationModality- auditory signals plus facial expressionsLexicon- small fixed set of alarm callsSyntax- noneTeaching animals human languageThere are many possible reasons why animals may not exhibit human like language in the wildExperimental evidence is needed to answer these questionsLINGUIS 101 1st Edition Lecture 24 Syntax part 4Is human language special?-Many animals have communication systems, not just humans-Are humans really unique in having “language”?-What do we mean by “language”?Design features of language-Mode of communicationoYou have to have some way of decoding the signal, some mean or mode of communicating the signal Ex: sign language, modality is visualAnimals have a wider variety of modality than humans, they use auditory (elephants), visual (fireflies), tactile –touch (dogs lick their pups to bond), chemical (skunks use their smell to deter predators) -Semanticity- signals have meaning oThat signal, whatever it is, is associated with a meaning Have to have these 2 to be a langue -Interchangeability- speakers can both send and receive messages oHumans can both produce and perceive the signals of their language oSome animals can Elephant or bat auditory communication oBut some cannot Silkworm moth chemical mating signal only produced byfemales Whistling moth auditory mating signal only produced by males -Culturaltransmission- exposure to language is required for developmentoMost animal communication systems are entirely innate (no learning or exposure to input required) Cow birds raised by other species oSome animals require input, possibly in critical period to acquire the communication system of their species, like humans Killer whales, chimps, finches -Arbitrariness- form of single not directly related to its meaning oMuch animal communication is iconic Dog rolling over to show submission oBut some species have arbitrary signals Male western fence lizard- dark blue indicates territorial ownership, light blue indicates not his territory -Discreteness- decomposable messages oMost animal communication consists entirely of simplex “morphemes” which do not combine into larger units at all oA very few have combinatorial systems Bee dances  pattern, vivavity, angle These 4, some animal languages have some don’t, of course all human languages have them-Displacement- can discuss things not present oHuman language- ability to discuss items not present in the current environment That plum pudding we made for Christmas in 1978 sure was delicious oAnimal communication: no animal has displayed this ability in the wild -Productivity- ability to produce infinite messages (recursion) oHumans can produce and understand sentences they have never heard before, due in part to recursion in syntaxoAnimal communication systems are closed systems: no recursion, no productivity or creativityThese 2, only human languages haveExample: primate communication-Modality- auditory signals plus facial expressions -Lexicon- small fixed set of alarm calls-Syntax- none Teaching animals human language-There are many possible reasons why animals may not exhibit human like language in the wild -Experimental evidence is needed to answer these


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UW-Madison LINGUIS 101 - Syntax Part 4

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