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Animals Communicate, Humans Do It Term Paper

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;

Givon, Talmy. Bio-Linguistics; the Santa Barbara Lectures.(Book Review)

Linguistics: an interdisciplinary journal of the language sciences; 5/1/2004;

McPherson, Les. Vocalizations of the Tuamotu Sandpiper, Prosobonia cancellata.

Wilson Bulletin; 12/1/2003;

American Scientist; 3/1/1999; Corballis, Michael C.

Talmy Givon: Bio-Linguistics; the Santa Barbara Lectures. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: Benjamins, 2002. xviii + 383 pp. ISBN 90-272-2590-7.

Sources used in this document:
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;
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