Introduction to Language and Communication - Week 3, 4, and 5 PDF

Introduction to language and communication Test 2 Week 3, 4, and 5 Week 3 Human language/ animal communication. Language: A system of communication of meaning through complex arbitrary signals or symbols in a significant syntax. Human language: - Uses arbitrary signs. - Permits displacem...

Introduction to language and communication Test 2 Week 3, 4, and 5 Week 3 Human language/ animal communication. Language: A system of communication of meaning through complex arbitrary signals or symbols in a significant syntax. Human language: - Uses arbitrary signs. - Permits displacement. - Is characterized by discrete infinity. - Is combinatorial. Note: - Only humans use language, but this does not mean that animals don't communicate. - Animal communication Does not have all the properties of language. All communication systems have a mode of communication/ how the message is transmitted. Animal communication can involve: - Visual signals - Auditory, or sound-based signals. - Chemical signals (involving pheromones) - Tactile, touch-based, cues. What do these animal communications help in? Communication behaviors help animals find mates, establish dominance, defend territory, coordinate group behavior, and care for the young. All communication systems have [semanticity] and [pragmatic functions.] Definitions: - Semanticity: signals have specific meanings. - Pragmatic function: signals help us achieve a purpose. Explanation: all communication methods (example: talking, gestures, or animal sounds) have two important things: 1. They mean something (they send a message) 2. Useful purpose: they help us get things done/express our needs. In short, we share meaningful sentences that help us accomplish something. What is the purpose of animal communication? 1. Primarily for basic needs/concerns: Eating + Mating + Vital behaviors (e.g., fighting or fleeing). 2. Playful behaviors: Observed in some birds and mammals but not proven to be used just for fun. - Animal communication carries meaning, but fully understanding it remains a challenge. Researchers are currently using machine learning called natural language processing (NLP) and large datasets to try to \"translate\" whale songs, much like how AI translates human languages. **Notes for week 3:** - Many species of animal can communicate, [but only humans have language. ] - Human language [is highly specialized form of communication. ] - The ability to communicate (transfer info) [is not limited to humans. ] - Earliest organisms used chemo-communication, but they later evolved to include physical communication and bio-acoustic communication (sound-based) as well. - Humans are still in the early stages of understanding animal communication. Detailed examples of animal communications to know... **Ant communication:** - **Over 50 messages:** ants convey complex messages for colony survival using body language and chemicals. - **Chemical communication:** they release pheromones to signal warnings. - **Body language:** ants tap and grab with their antennae to communicate. - **Possible abilities:** recent research shows ants may also use sound/bio acoustic communications. - **Long history:** for hundreds of millions of years, ants have used a mix of chemicals, body language and sound to interact within their colony. **Honeybee communication:** - **Discovery:** zoologist Karl von Frisch identified that honeybees use dancing to communicate in early 20^th^ century. - **Complex information:** his work showed that even small insects can exchange complex info. - **Waggle dance:** forager bees preform the waggle dance to inform others about food type, quality, and location. - **Communication modes:** honeybees use body language, food exchange and bioacoustics (sound). - **Essential for communications:** all three modes are crucial for effective communication within the colony. **Parrot communication:** - 1940's research: parrots were found capable of learning non-vocal tasks like matching object quantities. - **Vocalization:** later studies revealed that parrots communicate meaningfully with natural vocalizations. - **Alex the parrot:** at 1 year old, Alex could communicate in English using techniques from human social learning. - **Understanding meaning:** Alex demonstrated understanding by expressing similar ideas, like counting and recognizing size and material. - **Vocabulary growth:** over 12 years, Alex learned about 40 objects and phrases like "no," "come here" and "I want to go". - **Limitations:** while Alex couldn't relate to past or future, he showed that birds can use language creatively. Animal communication -- recent studies suggest that since birds control their songs with their left brain, their dinosaur ancestors might have some sort of complex communication as well. - While no animal communication matches human language in sophistication, studies with [chimpanzees and bonobos] suggest the gap may be smaller than thought: 1. **Chimpanzees:** - Early vocal communication attempts failed; sign language showed better results. - Washoe learned 132 signs over four years, similar to a human child\'s development. - Debate exists on whether chimps use language like humans or merely respond to rewards. 2. **Bonobos:** - In the wild, bonobos communicate frequently with body language. - Kanzi learned to use a keyboard of symbols and respond to English, showing human-like communication. - Kanzi outperformed a two-year-old in tests, suggesting significant communicative ability. **Similarities Between Humans and Animals in Communication** **Differences:** Humans can creatively manipulate symbols. Animals (e.g., parrots) mimic sounds without understanding meaning. Shared Communication Forms: 1. Sound: - Both convey emotions through sound. - Example: Vervet monkeys use specific calls for different predators. 2. Odor: - Humans use scent for bonding and recognition. - Animals use odor to mark territory and signal mating readiness. 3. Body Language: - Similar displays of fear in both species. - Research shows apes use intentional gestures like human infants. Conclusion: Despite differences, fundamental traits in communication highlight connections between species. **Multiple Choice Questions About Animal Communication: week 3** **1. Which of the following is NOT a key property of human language, as described in the sources?** a\) Arbitrary signs b\) Displacement c\) Instinctual understanding d\) Discrete infinity **Answer: c) Instinctual understanding** - **Explanation:** The sources explain that human language is characterized by arbitrary signs (words not inherently connected to their meaning), displacement (talking about things not present), and discrete infinity (finite units combined in infinite ways). Instinctual understanding is not listed as a property of human language. **2. Which animal communication method is BEST illustrated by a dog marking its territory?** a\) Visual Signal b\) Auditory Signal c\) Chemical Signal d\) Tactile Cue **Answer: c) Chemical Signal** - **Explanation:** While dogs use various communication methods, marking territory primarily relies on chemical signals, specifically pheromones in their urine. **3. What technological advancements are scientists using to potentially \"translate\" animal communication like whale songs?** a\) Genetic sequencing b\) Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) c\) Advanced underwater microphones d\) Brain-computer interfaces **Answer: b) Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP)** - **Explanation:** The sources highlight the use of ML and NLP, similar to how AI translates human languages, as promising tools for decoding animal communication patterns. **4. Which of the following animal species is known for using a complex dance to communicate the location of food?** a\) Ants b\) Honeybees c\) Parrots d\) Chimpanzees **Answer: b) Honeybees** - **Explanation:** The sources describe honeybees\' \"waggle dance\" as a well-documented example of using intricate body movements to communicate information about food sources. 5\. **What ethical consideration arises from the possibility of effectively communicating with animals?** a\) The risk of animals losing their natural communication abilities. b\) The potential for economic exploitation of animals with valuable knowledge. c\) The need to reassess our responsibilities towards other species and how we treat them. d\) The possibility of discovering that animals have no interest in communicating with humans. **Answer: c) The need to reassess our responsibilities towards other species and how we treat them.** - **Explanation:** The sources emphasize that understanding animal communication could challenge our assumptions and require us to reconsider our ethical obligations in our interactions with other species. Week 4 Language families - Language family: A group of languages related by descent from a common ancestor (proto language). - Proto language: the ancestral language of a family. - Family tree comparison: 1. languages evolve like people in biological family trees. 2. Historical linguistics use this model to show relationships. - The concept is that Language families [help illustrate the evolution and connection between languages. ] **1. Introduction to Language Families** - **Language family**: A group of related languages descended from a common ancestor (proto-language). - Languages are related like people in a family tree. - **Subdivisions**: Branches of a language family. - **Common Language Families**: - **Indo-European** (445 languages, 3.2 billion speakers) - E.g., English (West Germanic branch), French (Romance branch) 1. **Sino-Tibetan** 2. **Afro-Asiatic** 3. **Niger-Congo** 4. **Austronesian** 5. **Trans-New Guinea** **2. Afro-Asiatic Language Family:** - **Regions**: North Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Middle East - **Branches**: 1. Berber (26 languages) 2. Chadic (195) 3. Cushitic (47) 4. Egyptian/Coptic (1, extinct) 5. Omotic (28) 6. Semitic (77) - **Word Order**: Many Afro-Asiatic languages use Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) word order. **3. Arabic:** - Member of the Semitic branch of Afro-Asiatic family. - Spoken in the Gulf, parts of North and East Africa. - 35 distinct varieties of Arabic. **4. Language Isolates:** - **Isolates**: Languages with no known relatives, not placed in any family. - Example: **Basque** is a well-known isolate. - **Korean**: Sometimes considered an isolate, though disputed by linguists. **5. How to Identify Language Relations:** - **Establishing Relations**: 1. Languages in a family share a common ancestor (proto-language). 2. Compare **vocabulary** to find similar words with the same meaning and phonological form. - Example: English *brother* and Dutch *broer*. - **Examples of Vocabulary Correspondences**: - **English → Romance Languages**: - *one*: French *un*, Spanish *uno*, Italian *uno*, Portuguese *um* - *book*: French *livre*, Spanish/Italian *libro*, Portuguese *livro* - *school*: French *école*, Spanish *escuela*, Italian *scuola*, Portuguese *escola* **6. Caution When Comparing Words** 1. **Lexical Borrowing**: - Words are borrowed between languages. - Example: Turkish *kitap* (from Arabic), *duş* (from French). - The Nahuan word *chocolatl* has been borrowed by many languages. 2. **Coincidence**: - Similar-sounding words in unrelated languages by chance. - Example: In **Mbabaram** (Australian), *dog* means \"dog.\" - In **Old Japanese**, *womina* meant \"woman.\" **7. Systematic Phonological Patterns** - A better method to identify related languages is by finding **consistent sound patterns** across words. - **English vs. German**: - *apple* → *apfel*, *help* → *helfen*, *hope* → *hoffen*, *open* → *offen* - *thing* → *ding*, *bath* → *bad*, *thirst* → *durst*, *three* → *drei* **8. Proto-Languages:** - **Proto-Germanic**: The mother of English and German (sister languages). - **Latin**: The mother of Romance languages (e.g., French, Spanish, Italian, etc.). **9. Proto-Indo-European (PIE):** - **PIE**: Hypothetical ancestor of Indo-European languages. - Spoken between 4500 BC to 2500 BC (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age). - Origin (Kurgan Hypothesis): Grasslands of Eastern Europe. - As migrations occurred, regional dialects of PIE evolved into ancient Indo-European languages, which further diverged into modern languages. **10. Key Terms to Know:** - **Language family** - **Proto-language** - **Branches** - **Living language** - **Isolates** **Multiple Choice Questions about language families: week 4** 1. **What is the BEST definition of a language family?** a\) A group of languages with similar-sounding words. b\) A collection of languages spoken in the same geographic region. c\) A set of languages that share a common ancestor (proto-language). d\) A classification system for languages based on their writing systems. **Answer: c) A set of languages that share a common ancestor (proto-language).** **Explanation:** The sources define a language family as a group of languages descended from a common ancestor, known as a proto-language. 2. **Which of the following language families has the LARGEST number of speakers worldwide, according to the sources?** a. Afro-Asiatic b. b\) Indo-European c. c\) Sino-Tibetan d. d\) Austronesian **Answer: b) Indo-European** **Explanation:** The sources state that the Indo-European language family has 445 languages and 3.2 billion speakers, making it the largest in terms of speaker count.2 3. **Arabic is a member of which branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family?** a\) Berber b\) Chadic c\) Cushitic d\) Semitic **Answer: d) Semitic** **Explanation:** The sources specifically place Arabic within the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family.23 4. **Which of the following is a characteristic commonly found in languages belonging to the Afro-Asiatic family?** a. Subject-Verb-Object b. (SVO) word order. c. b\) Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) word order. d. c\) Object-Verb-Subject (OVS) word order. e. d\) A lack of any consistent word order pattern. **Answer: b) Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) word order.** **Explanation:** The sources note that many Afro-Asiatic languages exhibit a VSO word order 5. **What is a language isolate?** a\) A language that is only spoken in a single, isolated community. b\) A language that has no known living speakers. c\) A language with no demonstrable relationship to any other known language. d\) A language that has borrowed words extensively from other languages. **Answer: c) A language with no demonstrable relationship to any other known language.** **Explanation:** The sources define language isolates as languages with no known relatives or a place within an established language family. 6. **Which of the following language pairs is provided as an example of how comparing vocabulary can help identify language relations?** a\) English \"brother\" and German \"bruder\" b\) Turkish \"kitap\" and Arabic \"kitab\" c\) Mbabaram \"dog\" and English \"dog\" d\) Old Japanese \"womina\" and English \"woman\" **Answer: a) English \"brother\" and German \"bruder\"** **Explanation:** The sources use the example of English \"brother\" and Dutch \"broer\" (similar to German \"bruder\") to illustrate how similar words with the same meaning and phonological form can indicate a language relationship.4 7. **Why is simply comparing similar-sounding words not always a reliable method for determining language relations?** a\) Languages change too rapidly for word comparisons to be meaningful. b\) Similar-sounding words may be coincidences or a result of borrowing between languages. c\) The meaning of words can shift over time, making comparisons difficult. d\) There is no established method for accurately comparing words across languages. **Answer: b) Similar-sounding words may be coincidences or a result of borrowing between languages.** **Explanation:** The sources caution against relying solely on word comparisons because languages can borrow words from one another (like Turkish \"kitap\" from Arabic), and unrelated languages may have similar-sounding words by pure coincidence. 8. **What method do the sources suggest is a MORE reliable indicator of language relations than simply comparing individual words?** a\) Analyzing grammatical structures b\) Examining the geographic proximity of language speakers c\) Identifying systematic sound patterns across words d\) Comparing the written forms of languages **Answer: c) Identifying systematic sound patterns across words** **Explanation:** The sources emphasize that looking for consistent sound correspondences across words in different languages (like English \"father\" and German \"vater\") provides stronger evidence of a relationship than isolated word comparisons.7 9. **What is Proto-Indo-European (PIE)?** a\) A language family that includes languages spoken in India and Europe. b\) The reconstructed ancestor of the Indo-European language family. c\) A type of ancient writing system used by Indo-European peoples. d\) A collection of artifacts that provide insights into Indo-European culture. **Answer: b) The reconstructed ancestor of the Indo-European language family.** **Explanation:** The sources explain that PIE is a hypothetical proto-language, meaning it is the theorized ancestor of all languages within the Indo-European family, based on reconstructions from existing evidence. 10. **According to the Kurgan Hypothesis, where is the MOST likely origin of Proto-Indo-European (PIE)?** a\) The Fertile Crescent b\) The Indus Valley c\) The grasslands of Eastern Europe d\) The Anatolian Peninsula **Answer: c) The grasslands of Eastern Europe** **Explanation:** The sources connect the Kurgan Hypothesis to the origin of PIE, suggesting it was spoken in the grasslands of Eastern Europe. Week 5 Language and the brain