Language and Communication: Arbitrariness and Meaning

Human Language vs Animal Communication

• Human language has no inherent connection between the signal (word) and the meaning, whereas animals have a recognizable link between the two.
• Arbitrariness is a feature of human language, meaning that the word 'lion' has no inherent connection to the meaning of a lion, except for onomatopoeic words.

The Need for Learning

• Humans require a long learning process to acquire language, which is culturally transmitted, whereas animals are born with the ability to communicate without learning.
• A human raised in isolation will not acquire language, as shown by rare cases.

Duality

• Human language has a dual organization, with a layer of sound (physical) and a layer of units (meaning).
• Animals have a stock of basic sounds that vary according to species, e.g. cows have under 10, chickens have 20, and dolphins have between 20 and 30.

Design Features of Human Language

• Human language is conditioned by the environment, with an innate predisposition in newborns that is activated by careful learning.
• The use of sound signals is not unique to humans, as many animals use sound signals to communicate, but humans may have acquired language at a later stage in their evolution.
• Arbitrariness, the need for learning, and duality are design features of human language that are distinct from animal communication systems.