Communication: Cerebral Cortex and Human Language
Throughout the time, humanity has developed one ability more than anything; the ability to communicate, verbally in particular. Language is an evolving concept for sure, because without the great vocabulary, humans would not be any different than monkeys. The ability to exchange information is shared by every communication systems, and a number of non-human systems share several features of human language.
The primary difference between human and non-human communication is that animals are believed to act in response impulsively, in a stereotyped and expected way. Mostly, human behaviour is under the intentional control, and human language is original and unpredictable.
It is generally thought that just humans have language. In nature we can see plentiful kinds of communication systems, many of which appear to be specific to their possessors, and one of them is the language of the human species. Basically, the point of communication is the protection, expansion and improvement of the species (Smith and Miller
1968:265).
Besides the language, people has always found a way to communicate, even in extraordinary conditions calling for help through lighting fire, generating smoke or using Mors alphabet using the light. There have been many tools and symbols through the history which has several roles in transferring information. In that sense, even mathematics, music, certain moves of a human body may also be considered as conveyors of information and even more such fields like maths, music not only transfers interpersonal information but also helps one’s intellectual enlightment. However, those samples, not being a direct tool of communication, cannot be categorized as languages.
In order to compare human language with animal communication, the linguist Charles Hockett (1967:574-580) developed a commonly accepted check list for language, a set of design properties that each human languages seize. His seven key features are: duality
The primary difference between human and non-human communication is that animals are believed to act in response impulsively, in a stereotyped and expected way. Mostly, human behaviour is under the intentional control, and human language is original and unpredictable.
It is generally thought that just humans have language. In nature we can see plentiful kinds of communication systems, many of which appear to be specific to their possessors, and one of them is the language of the human species. Basically, the point of communication is the protection, expansion and improvement of the species (Smith and Miller
1968:265).
Besides the language, people has always found a way to communicate, even in extraordinary conditions calling for help through lighting fire, generating smoke or using Mors alphabet using the light. There have been many tools and symbols through the history which has several roles in transferring information. In that sense, even mathematics, music, certain moves of a human body may also be considered as conveyors of information and even more such fields like maths, music not only transfers interpersonal information but also helps one’s intellectual enlightment. However, those samples, not being a direct tool of communication, cannot be categorized as languages.
In order to compare human language with animal communication, the linguist Charles Hockett (1967:574-580) developed a commonly accepted check list for language, a set of design properties that each human languages seize. His seven key features are: duality