Language Learning in Other Species

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, although controversial in nature, the field of language acquisition and production in other species has spawned research on apes and other animals that are thought to possess advanced cognitive functions. The paper shows that, while conclusive evidence agreed upon by even the majority of experts in this area has yet to emerge, the work to date has provided an interesting look into the communication and language structures of not only human language used by other species, but also their own native languages. This paper presents the literature in the field and frames it in the assumption that language is a cognitive system requiring specific characteristics for development and use.

From the Paper:

"What is language? Language is a method of organizing words to form coherent thoughts and facilitate communication, whereas simple communication includes not only these coherent thoughts but also emotions and nonverbal cues (Sternberg, 2004). The organization is key, as without it language falls into the realm of simple communication. Alternate definitions of language have posited that merely a means of communication is sufficient to apply the term language (Language, 2000), psychologists generally avoid this lay definition and include additional complexity requirements to the definition. While some have argued that mere language alone is not sufficient to explain our unequaled success as a species and our unique thought processes (Bickerton, 1990), many theorists believe it to be vital element distinguishing ourselves from other species. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Anderson, John R.(2000). Cognitive psychology and its implications. Worth Publishers. New York. 5th Ed.
• Bickerton, D. (1990). Language & Species. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.
• Bloom, L. (1997). Intentionality is the basis for the social foundations of language development. Paper presented at the symposium on Social Foundations of Language Development: Theoretical issues, Biennial Meeting of the society for research on child development. Washington D.C.
• Bodamar, M. D. & Gardner, R. A. (2002). How cross-fostered chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) initiate and maintain conversations. Journal of Comparative Psychology. Vol 116(1), 12-26.
• Caldwell, M. C., Caldwell, D. K., & Turner, R. H. (1970). Statistical analysis of the signature whistle of the atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin with correlation between vocal changes and level of arousal. Los Angeles county museum of natural history foundation technical report, 8.

More papers on Language Learning in Other Species:

• Essay # 137783 : "Second Language Learning and the Natural Development of "
• Research Paper # 4425 : "A Common Language: Communication Between Humans and the Great Apes"
• Book Review # 119111 : "Content-Centered Language Learning"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: