Psychology 2135A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Vocal Folds, Kanzi, Function Word

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2135A/B
• Professor: John Paul Minda

Document Summary

Many psychologists suggest that humans are unique in our abilities to use our language. But some don"t agree, because many animals communicate via language. Bees engage in a dance to tell other bees where a good source of nectar is. Getting novel sentences that kanzi has not used before and is asked to carry out the instruction. But bonobos, chimps, and gorillas have difficulty producing things they can"t speak. Define what linguists thought was unique to human language they cannot talk the way we do. They can understand us but not communicate back to us: vocal/auditory channel: communication involves transfer between the vocal and the auditory apparatus. We communicate, speak vocally and listen through ear: broadcast transmission/directional reception: the signal can be sent out in many directions, but is perceived in one direction. Can speak to many people all at once, but each person can still hear the information individually: rapid fading, transitoriness: the verbal signal fades quickly.