What Distingishes Human and Animal Communication

1. Briefly comment on the features that distinguish human language from the animal system of communication. Both human beings and animals communicate with one another. Animal communicate through their communication systems called languages of animals Example: language of dolphins, language of bees. What distinguish human language from the animal system of communication? 1.1 Physical Predisposition Humans produce sounds by the organs of speech (teeth, lips, larynx, mouth, and pharynx). No other species except apes and monkeys have been endowed with this gift. But over year’s human beings’ vocal tract reconstructed. Human larynx differs significantly in position from monkeys and primate. Humans are more flexible to produce sounds unlike monkeys. 1.2 Genetics The communication systems of animals are instinctive. They are inborn with them genetically. On the other hand, human language is non-instinctive. Humans can inherit and learn any language through social interaction. 1.3 Langauge adaptation to situations Human language can extend and change. The symbol or linguistic sign used in a language a hundred years ago may be modified and even may no longer be used. A human being can even in a most unknown situation say a sentence which has never been said before and if can still be understood. On contrary animal communication cannot be changed. It lacks creativity and multiplicity to produce new sounds to suit the situations. Over the years they would use the same language.