Animal language is a certain type of communication believed to be of similar feature to human language on the part of the animals. The animal communication is hard enough to be called type of language for the list of signs is wide and basically based on no principle or plan.
Despite the fact that human language is unique, it can be identified that humans can communicate with animals to some extent. Apes have adapted learned language by use of symbols and gestures. Parrots on the other side can learn to speak words and sometimes make use of those words to indicate impressive learning though difficult. There are noticeable similarities between human and other animals in the case of chimpanzees communicating with other animals. Another example is that of vervet monkey they take appropriate actions on different calls, when they hear a snake call they stand up to scan the grass ,on hearing an eagle they run for cover up in the bushes and climb a tree on hearing a leopard. Linguistic researchers including Charles Hockett have come into an agreement that as much as animal language exists, it is not as complex as that of human beings. Researchers have carried out certain experiments to show the ability of human to give meaning to animals of all kinds by recording animal sound and later playing them back, this way human copy their behaviors and attract their attention. The researchers have employed a certain tool called playback experiment to help understand the communication of the animals .
Animals may not have conscious awareness of their body or shape but in different cases they do communicate only in certain selective situations for example any other species that reproduces sexually fully communicate in order for them to mate, then only kind of communication put in place is the use of five common sense which human too dedicate their attention. A male dragon fly suddenly moves downwards on a female holding it firmly for mating, they use body shape, size and color patterns to communicate. Many other types of communication needs consciousness, female animals like marmosets, mole rats and moths uses odor as their communication way, the odor is so strong of which it can draws a male moth from miles away or make it impossible for all apart from one female mole rat in a colony from ovulating.
Researchers believe that animals don’t have a specific language but rather have a way in which they communicate to one another in unnoticeable manner. Their communication is done through body language, odors and sounds. The body language seen between animal is their posture, cats will arch their backs to make them look bigger while dogs will show their teeth. Every species have their own posture to warn others that they are ready to fight and the other species also understand the signs. A pack of wolves shows team work when communicating among each other on the tactics they use when surrounding a prey even though some scientist claim that they only use their instinct. When young animals play, they use certain body language and postures to show tell the others know that it is a play. Human beings feel the low tone of the elephant trumpet while they are letting other know of a nearby watering spot and their presence known to other elephants up to 7.5 km away. A beaver slaps its tail if danger approaches sending a signal to other beavers to seek their safety.
Philosophers believe that language is the only thing that sets humankind different from the other animals while others argue that human language has a little resemblance with animal communication the only thing setting human side is their creativity, rules and meaning. Many researchers have attempted to teach animals language. The primates thought did not master symbolic language but rather mastered behavioral responses to their human trainers. Language is for human, this s not a criticism to animal. Every species have their own system of communication.
References
Johansson, s. (2001). Animal communication, animal mind and animal language. University of Lund.
Wyhe, J. v. (2002, n.d.). descent of man and selection in relation to sex1871. Retrieved April 15, 2013, from Darwin Online: http://darwin-online.org.uk/EditorialIntroductions/Freeman_TheDescentofMan.html
