The animal world is amazing and incredibly interesting. Watching the habits of animals is an exciting activity. Can they talk? How do animals communicate with each other? Do representatives of different subspecies understand each other?
Animal: the boundaries of the concept
Depending on the criteria taken as a basis, various interpretations of the word "animal" are given. In a narrow sense, these are mammals. In a broader concept - all four-legged. From a scientific point of view, animals are everyone who knows how to move, and those who have a nucleus in their cells. But what can be said about those species that lead an immobile lifestyle. Or, conversely, about microorganisms that are constantly in motion? If we talk about how animals communicate with each other, then attention should be paid mainly to mammals, however, birds and fish also have their own languages.
Animal language
Language is a complex sign system. And this is not surprising. If we talk about human language, it differs fundamentally from other sign systems in that it serves for linguistic expression of thoughts. Speaking about how animals communicate with each other, it can be noted that in science there is a separate term for this process - “animal language”.
Four-legged individuals convey information to their opponent, not only through sounds. They have well developed sign language and facial expressions. Beasts certainly have more communication channels than humans. If you compare how animals and people communicate, then here you can find many differences. A person basically puts his intentions, wills, desires, feelings and thoughts into speech. That is, the main burden is on verbal communication.
Animals, by contrast, actively use non - verbal means of communication. They have much more than people. In addition to the non-verbal means inherent in a person (poses, gestures, facial expressions), they use body language (mainly with the help of the tail and ears). An important role in communication for them is played by smells. Thus, the language as a system of phonemes and tokens in animals is absent. The way animals communicate with each other is like symbols. Their language is, rather, signals that they use to transmit information to relatives.
Fish tongue
Sounds made by a person in the process of communication are articulate speech. This is the ability of the vocal apparatus to create phonemes of a different way of formation: slotted, occlusive, trembling, sonorous. This is not characteristic of any animal species. However, the language of sounds is inherent in many animals. Even some fish are able to publish them to inform others about the danger or attack.
For example, the ramp hoots, the catfish can grunt, the flounder emits a bell ringing, the toad fish is buzzing, the schena is singing. The sound is born in them when the gills vibrate, gnash of teeth, squeeze the bubble. There are fish that use the environment to intentionally create sounds. So, a fox shark beats its tail in the water during hunting, freshwater predators emerge in pursuit of prey.
Bird tongue
The singing and chirping of birds is not unconscious. The birds have many signals that they use in different situations.
Unequal sounds are made by birds, for example, during nesting and migration, at the sight of enemies and the search for relatives. Their ability to communicate is emphasized in the works of folklore, where a hero who understands birds is a part of nature. Hearing aids in birds are better developed than in other animals. They perceive sounds more sensitive than people, are able to hear shorter and faster phonemes. Such abilities given by nature are actively used by birds. For example, pigeons hear at a distance of several hundred meters.
In the language set of birds of each species, there are several songs that they receive with genes and assimilate in a flock. The ability of some birds to imitate and remember is known. So, science knows the case when the African gray parrot Alex learned a hundred words and talked. He also managed to formulate the question of what scientists could not achieve from primates. Lyrebird from Australia is able to mimic not only birds, but also other animals, as well as artificially created sounds by humans. Thus, the vocal abilities of birds are great, but I must say, little studied. Birds also use non-verbal means. If you carefully observe how the animals communicate with each other, the language of movement will also be noticeable. For example, feathery feathers indicate readiness for a fight, a large open beak is a sign of alarm, its clicking is a threat.
Pet language: cats
Each owner, observing the behavior of his pets, noticed that they also know how to talk. In the lessons of natural history and the world around us, we study how animals communicate with each other (Grade 5). For example, cats can purr in different ways if they ask for food when they rest. They meow next to a person, but they are silent or hiss alone with relatives, using the body language for communication.
It is especially interesting to observe the position of their ears: vertically raised means attention, relaxed and stretched forward - calm, directed backward and pinned down - threat, constant movement of the ears - concentration. The tail of furry creatures is an important signaling device for others. If he is raised, then the cat is happy. When the tail is raised and fluffed, the animal is ready to attack. Omitted - a sign of concentration. Fast tail movements - the cat is nervous.
Pet language: dogs
Illustrating how animals communicate with each other, we can say that the language of dogs is also diverse.
They can not only bark, but also growl, howl. In this case, the barking of dogs is different. For example, a quiet and rare bark indicates attention, loud and lingering means danger, the presence of someone else's. The dog growls, defending, or guarding the prey. If she howls, then she is lonely and sad. Sometimes she squeals if someone hurt her.
The way animals communicate with each other using non-verbal means of communication is demonstrated by rabbits. They rarely make sounds: mainly with strong excitement and fright. However, their body language is well developed. Their long ears, capable of spinning in different directions, serve as a source of information for them. To communicate with each other, rabbits, like cats and dogs, use the language of smells. These animals have special glands that form the smelling enzymes with which they limit their territory.
Wild language
The behavior and how animals communicate in the wild is similar to the habits of domestic animals. Indeed, much is transmitted through genes. It is known that protecting themselves and protecting their territory, wild animals shout loudly and viciously. But on this the system of their language signs is not limited. Wild animals communicate a lot. Their communication is complex and interesting. The world-recognized most intelligent animals on the planet are dolphins. Their intellectual capabilities are not fully understood. It is known that they have a complex language system.
In addition to twitter, which is accessible to the human hearing, they communicate with ultrasound for orientation in space. These amazing animals are actively in contact in the pack. During communication, they call the names of the interlocutor, issuing an instant unique whistle. Certainly, the natural world is peculiar and fascinating. Man has yet to learn how animals communicate with each other. The language system, complex and exceptional, is inherent in many of our smaller brothers.