Human and Animal Language (Final Essay)
Language tends to be a complicated term to define, when it comes to being used concurrently with animal communication. With language naturally viewed as a unique feature to the human being, many object or define language in a way uniquely based on humanity. One definition from Rousseau, a French philosopher, argued “Language flows from emotions.” (Bever, Montalbetti Nov 2002) Expressing that he believes that animals do not express emotions thus should not be titled to use the term language. Another personal definition came from Herder, a philosopher, who stated that “language is a special expression of human rationality.” (Bever, Montalbetti Nov 2002) Both debaters believed that language is a high form of communication only for the use of high intellects such as humans. In contrast to these two men another definition of language came about from Charles Darwin, inaugurating a new era which centered on the evolution of language. Darwin suggested that “Language emerges from more primitive emotional communication abilities in animals.” (Bever, Montalbetti Nov 2002) This new era led new scientists, such as Hauser, Chomsky and Fitch to explore new ideas redefining language as a cognitive computational faculty.
A Current hypotheses concerning animal language develops from a group of scientists by the names of Marc Hauser, Noam Chomsky and W. Fitch. These scientists further defined language in a way called the faculty of language which they believe “requires substantial interdisciplinary cooperation.” (Hauser, Chomsky, Fitch Nov 2002) With involving more than one field of study to help discern the ability of language, the definition will more accurately express the meaning. Faculty of language, a form of categorizing mind development, can be split into two different groups; the faculty of language in the broad sense (FLB) and in the narrow sense (FLN). The broad sense includes “a sensory-motor system, a...