TITLE

Do Birds Have Language?

In the cheeps, trills and tweets of birdsong, scientists find some parallels with human speech

DESCRIPTION

What an absolutely fascinating article!!!  The article takes a deep dive into the cognitive ability we call language.  The authors define and discuss the complexity of our language ability and numerous studies that delineate what makes our ability so special.  “Human language is made possible by an impressive aptitude for vocal learning. Infants hear sounds and words, form memories of them, and later try to produce those sounds, improving as they grow up. Most animals cannot learn to imitate sounds at all. Though nonhuman primates can learn how to use innate vocalizations in new ways, they don’t show a similar ability to learn new calls. Interestingly, a small number of more distant mammal species, including dolphins and bats, do have this capacity. But among the scattering of nonhuman vocal learners across the branches of the bush of life, the most impressive are birds — hands (wings?) down.”  

The lengthy article provides an in depth view and summary of research done with the avian species and demonstrates that the language of birds is more than simple communication but rather a rather unique set of cognitive abilities and behaviors.

The article includes several audio-visual sequences of bird song as communication.   Students of animal behavior will really like the article, and it can serve as a good resource for a study.

SOURCE

Knowable Magazine, February 15, 2022, by Betsy Mason

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2022/do-birds-have-language

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/mse88bj5

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•According to the article, what is language?  How is it defined as a cognitive ability?

•Do all animals have language abilities? Why is this of interest to Psychologists?

•What is remarkable about bird song as “language”?  Provide 3 characteristics that are highlighted in the article.