Human Language V/S Animal Language

Difference between animal and human communication

Introduction

Language is an invaluable possession of the human race. Man is clearly distinguished from other species by his capacity of using language. Human beings have an organized form of languages. There are innumerable languages exist around the world. Animals also communicate in one or the other way. This communication method or language is not organized as human language and entirely different from human communication method, biologically and culturally.

Human Language

Language is the most effective method of human communication. The term language is derived from the Latin word lingua meaning tongue. Human language is in organized form. It is an open entity, new words or meanings may come into use. Language is as important as breathing. Barnett says, “Verbal communication is a condition of the existence of human society.”

Language helps man in several ways. It enables him to reach back into collective knowledge of his ancestors. It is through language that human beings collect and preserve knowledge and transfer it to the next generation. Most of the linguists disclose the fact that human language has different types of realizations such as written form, spoken form. Human language has signifier and signified.

Animal communication

Animals also can communicate. Some animals and birds like dog, dolphins, gibbons, herring gulls and honey bees have developed their own system of communication. But their communication system differs from human communication. Animal communication lacks flexibility and creativity. Their communication tradition is acquired genetically and not through learning.

Human language has got certain properties which makes it unique and different from animal communication system. These properties are duality, creativity, displacement, arbitrariness, interchangeability etc.

The main differences between animal and human communications.

The primary difference between human...