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Referring to the fact that signing children acquire a lexicon first, it is argued that grammar in its largest sense is the latest acquisition in communication. The whole process is based on an underlying cognitive structure (so-called semantic memory) that is already in place. Grammar is responsible for two domains of representation: propositional and discourse pragmatics. The priority of the lexicon is also sustained by so-called pregrammatical communication as it is found, for example, in child pidgin and agrammatical aphasia. "
Human language is distinguished by these factors, however only time will tell if other animal communication evolves to math the abilty that humans currently have. While it has not happened yet, it is believed that some animals have highly advanced communication abilities as compared to other animals. Dolphins and primates both come to mind in the discussion of advanced animal communication abilities. Without being able to study the beginning it is impossible to know if their language ability has always been what it is today or if it is an advancing ability based on an evolutionary process, much like the human language.
Humans are not the only animals with the ability to communicate. One only has to watch herds of buffalo, flocks of geese, and schools of fish...
Human linguistics have proven thus far to be the most complicated and mutli-dimensional with an evolving level of sophistication. The only real distinguishable difference between human linguistics and animal communication at this point is the fact that humans can hear a series of words strung together for the first time and instantly understand their meaning.
References
Droste, Flip G.
Talmy Givon: Bio-Linguistics; the Santa Barbara Lectures. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: Benjamins, 2002. xviii + 383 pp. ISBN 90-272-2590-7.
Corballis, Michael C. The gestural origins of language. American Scientist; March 1, 1999;
Face, Timothy. Southwest Journal of Linguistics; June 1, 2002;
Human interactions with nonhuman animals should be guided solely by the impact of these interactions with other human beings, and not upon any perceived impact upon nonhuman animals themselves. This argument is based largely upon Descartes' understanding of the essential difference between humans and nonhuman animals. Descartes' argues that the body is external to the mind, and that non-human animals do not possess the pure, thinking mind of humans. Thus,
Pycroft insists that because the human body is made up of "…trillions of cells, each containing billions of molecules, many of which are composed of tens of thousands of atoms" -- with these microscopic "machines" able to communicate with each other and function in a "stunningly interdependent environment" -- researchers in biomedical environments need tools that can at least "mimic" human biology (Pycroft, 2011, p. 1). And animals are
Animal Communication may be defined as the transmission of a signal from one animal to another such that the sender benefits, on average, from the response of the recipient (Pearce). According to Robert Mannell this definition allows for the inclusion of many types of behavior and permits communication to be applied to a great range of animals. Natural animal communication can include chemical signals, smell, movement, posture, facial gestures, visual
Human Languages Is there a continuum of intelligence from animal to human, or are humans unique in terms of memory, thinking, or language? A child crosses several stages of development before a child ultimately becomes an adult and then completes his/her developmental phase. Meanwhile, the same goes for animals, which begins with the basic techniques for their survival such as standing on all feet, searching for food or recognizing their parents. Therefore,
Animal research is a necessity today, and has afforded us the opportunity to create lifesaving drugs and vaccines, new surgical procedures and improved diagnosis of disease. Despite the bad press animal activists have given, institutions are given guidelines that guarantee the safe and ethical treatment of research animals. Most scientists agree that continued animal testing is essential to develop new vaccines and medicines, and that computer and mathematical models are
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