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Language, Thought and Communication

Human and animal communication

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

The difference between communication and language, Aitchison's ten criteria including displacement and structure-dependence, and vervet monkey alarm calls and the honeybee waggle dance.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What did Aitchison (1983) propose about the features of language?

Key term

What is the difference between communication and language?

Key term

What is meant by the vocal-auditory channel?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is the difference between communication and language?

    Model answer

    Communication is any passing of information from one individual to another. Language is a structured system of symbols with rules, which allows unlimited new messages.

  2. 2

    What did Aitchison (1983) propose about the features of language?

    Model answer

    Aitchison proposed ten criteria that a system must meet to count as true language. Aitchison suggested four of the criteria may be unique to humans. The four are semanticity, displacement, structure-dependence and creativity.

  3. 3

    What is meant by the vocal-auditory channel?

    Model answer

    The vocal-auditory channel means messages are produced by the voice and received through hearing. Many animals also use sound, such as birdsong.

  4. 4

    What is arbitrariness in Aitchison's criteria?

    Model answer

    Arbitrariness means a word has no natural link to what it stands for. The word dog does not look or sound like a dog.

  5. 5

    What is semanticity?

    Model answer

    Semanticity is the use of symbols that carry specific meanings. A word refers to a particular object, action or idea.

  6. 6

    What is cultural transmission in language?

    Model answer

    Cultural transmission means language is passed on by learning from others rather than through genes. A child learns whichever language is spoken around them.

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