ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN!!!!!! ATHENS VS. SPARTA. DO NOW Let’s talk about September 11th….
Do Now: What is the ultimate form of communication?
-
Upload
griselda-greene -
Category
Documents
-
view
218 -
download
0
Transcript of Do Now: What is the ultimate form of communication?
Do Now: What is the ultimate form of communication?
Defines language as a skill limited to humans
Possess the cognitive hardware which makes language possible
Neural requirements for language developed after the evolutionary split between humans and primates
Primates can be trained to do many things
Trained behaviors do not signify language ability
He believes the primates simply ‘press certain buttons’ to receive rewards
Language was initially dependent on contextual clues
Could eventually respond to novel commands
Not proof of language because crucial element in language ability is production, not comprehension
Most advanced primate system of communication
Sounds produced are instinctive and not learned
Respond differently to different alarm calls
Robert Yerkes - inability to acquire verbal language because primates not inclined to imitation of sounds
The vocal cords of primates are not capable of supporting the production of language
Learned “more” in relation to tickling but was able to apply it to other situations
Could combine signs Similar to ability of human children to
connect words in sentences to which they have never been exposed
No sign language used in first 5 years Acquired signs by watching other chimps Little active teaching Reflects the manner in which human
children acquire language
Raised Nim like a human child Demonstrated use of arbitrary symbols to
represent physical actions Used signs “angry” and “bite” to express
displeasure Decided Nim incapable of combining
words to create novel ideas
Chimps use one sign to refer to general categories
Similar to children Able to create novel signs to convey a
metaphorically different concept
Many animals can receive signal Predators Conspecific interactions
Dishonest signaling
Arises because of constraints on the signal reception and processing machinery
Testosterone important Manipulate conspecifics
Detect electricity “see prey”
Produce electricity Electric eels Smaller river fish
Live in muddy water Active at night
Sense minute changes in these electric fields, the fields of other electric fish, and the weak fields produced by all living things
Can determine Size Sex Maturity Identity (Possibly)
Limited to about ½ a body length Serves dominance hierarchy
Dominant male at extreme high or low frequency
Dominant female at other extreme Electric fish can change frequency and
will challenge dominance by doing so