The study of animal communication has shown that animals' ability to transmit messages, express emotions, and coordinate activities are surprisingly more complex.
The vast majority of `human' beings consider language as one of the many, if not the central, hallmark of humanness, a sophisticated communicative system that distinguishes humanity from the beings in the other taxa of the animal kingdom. Or would it?
Animal communication: Information transfer from one individual to another, which leads to some change in behaviour. While human language is based on grammar and syntax, animal communication commonly combines vocalizations, body language, chemical signals, and a variety of other behaviours.
Many animals communicate through vocalizations. One of the well-known cases is that of birds, which sing so as not to fall prey, or to identify food, mates, and even mark territories. From rather simple songs used within a species, songs can be tremendously complex; in case the song is learned, it can be as well performed by songbirds. Studies on songbirds conveyed that they learn their songs much like human infants learn language, indicating that some sophisticated cognitive processes are at play.
Another very elaborate vocal behaviour is that of marine mammals—indeed, dolphins and whales. Dolphins produce clicks, whistles, and burst-pulsed sounds for communication. These sounds carry information about personal identity, location, and even emotional states. A possible "dolphin language" has been an area of active research. Some scientists even suggest that the communication system of dolphins might be linguistic in nature.
In fact, sounds are not the only means of communication for a large number of animals; many use body expressions and gestures. Among the most evident uses of gestures are those applied by primates, such as chimpanzees or gorillas. The repertoire in these cases is broad, and the gestures may vary from very specific and intentional signs to requests, warnings, or indications of social bonds. For instance, the specific hand signals that chimpanzees use clearly specify that they wish to be groomed or, in other cases, warn others about an imminent danger.
Insects, too, use body language to communicate. One of the best-known examples is the "waggle dance" of honeybees. When a foraging honeybee finds a rich source of food, it returns to the hive and does a little dance that informs the other bees of the direction and distance of the food. Such complex behaviour allows a colony to effectively exploit food sources in its area.
Chemical communication is another significant aspect of animal interaction. Most animals secrete pheromones for transmitting their reproductive status, territory boundaries, or social hierarchies. For instance, ants secrete pheromones to indicate trails to foodstuffs. Such an ability to produce or perceive such signals requires exceptional sensory and cognitive processing.
Complexity in the animal communication system also provides information on their cognitive ability. Production of different signals, signal interpretations, and signalling responses would somehow already suggest a minimum capability of intelligence and social complexity, though previously presumed to be possessed only by humans.
Good examples are the ability to learn and remember signals – these two are at the core of good communication.
Since birds learn their songs from their parents or other members of the species, they do show advanced processes of learning. The processes of information retention about social relationships and past interactions in primates and marine mammals show similar, amazing memory capabilities.
Communication highly involves problem-solving and innovation. For instance, primates have been seen using tools and passing on the capability to others using gestures and demonstrations. Their ability to innovate and transmit this knowledge highlights higher cognitive functions.
The biggest question on animal communication remains the possibility of a theory of mind, which means attributing mental states to oneself and to others. In that regard, some indications give reason to support that primitive level of having a theory of mind among animals such as the chimpanzees or a species like dolphins. This would be critical to social interactions and communication.
The study of animal communication shows much about their cognition: intelligence, learning, and social complexity. This is very important to comprehension—an understanding—regarding the nature of intelligence and to a better understanding of the evolutionary origins of language.
