Do Only Humans Have Language

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Before determining whether or not language is limited to the human species, it is important to first define the concept of language. Language is a helpful tool used by the general human population as a systematic form of communication in everyday life. The term ‘language’ originated from both the Latin word lingua, meaning tongue, and the French word parole, meaning speech. While many people think of language as verbal communication, it is also non-verbal (i.e. body language, symbols, etc.). Language is constantly changing and evolving based on our interactions with others, thereby making it arbitrary. We learn language at a young age and express meaning through the development of speech sounds based on what we observe from others, primarily family and friends. Culture also plays a part in how we interpret language, whether it is through symbols (the alphabet) or social norms (body language and attire). The way we express ourselves, both verbally and nonverbally, reflects our culture and background, essentially how we were raised. With that said, while there are two sides to the claim that states only humans have language, there is more evidence supporting the theory that suggests humans are not the only species with language. According to Savage-Rumbaugh, since the 1960s scientists have been attempting to teach chimpanzees and other apes symbol systems similar to human language (Finney 2015:40). In the case of Washoe, a chimpanzee from Nevada, the training method of moulding was effective to the extent that she was able to produce strings of signs; these sequences were further viewed as simple sentences. In another case with 2 chimps Sarah and Lana, a different training method was used. They had learned the rules that govern simple sentence construction by means of filling in the blanks of sentences. Scientists even found that 6 percent of Lana’s sentences
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