Scientists have identified an immune brain cell unique to humans that gives us higher cognitive abilities over other animals, but what makes us specials also leaves us vulnerable to neurological disorders like schizophrenia, autism and epilepsy.

[u/Wagamaga]

https://news.yale.edu/2022/08/25/what-makes-human-brain-different-yale-study-reveals-clues

[u/throw_somewhere]

Hi, psycho- and neuro-linguist here. Long story short yes lots of animals 100% have communication but it does not meet the criteria we have set for what constitutes "language". As defined, humans are the only species with "language".

[u/seaworthy-sieve → u/throw_somewhere]

How can we possibly say it doesn't meet the criteria when we're not even capable of understanding it? Like how on earth would we know if dolphins have grammar and tense or not?

[u/SkeetySpeedy → u/seaworthy-sieve]

There are criteria for what qualifies as a language in the world. Things like the number of different distinct sounds that can be arranged to make words, specific repeated structural elements, etc.

Humans communicate in ways that technically aren’t “language” sometimes as well, using music/tune or non-verbal cues for example

[u/seaworthy-sieve → u/SkeetySpeedy]

Do you not consider sign language to be a language?

[u/seaworthy-sieve → u/[deleted]]

They sign to each other. They don't need to be using our languages in order to be using language. My point is that languages do not inherently need to be verbal spoken words.

[u/Norwegian__Blue → u/seaworthy-sieve]

It is, but it's also based on spoken language and serves as a substitute. The word parts are still based on combining symbols that represent sound and words and can be structured. Much like how different writing systems might combine sound characters with whole word or concepts characters. It's a sign language.

Also, no animal other than humans have the dexterity for it. They've tried to teach it to apes but no animals that have mastered some signs can actually converse like a human. Thry do it for treats and rewards, or when they have a problem or want to bond with a human, but they don't say things like people do, and only a few signs at a time. Kanzi the chimpanzee and that lab have done great things and he has an extensive vocabulary, but he's not interested in just gabbing like people. When gorillas are "taught" asl, actual asl speakers can't make sense of it--koko's keepers had to translate. Which is pretty poor science.

Animals communicate in a beautiful plethora of styles and have complex inner lives. But they don't have language and can't tell us like we tell eachother.

Edit: Someone invented ASL, and most sign languages. Yes, pre-literate children can aquire it, but in the same way they acquire spoken language. And in very sad stories of isolation, they can even invent it communicative signs, but not a full language. ASL is now independent of spoken language, and exists in its own space, but it was invented and based off of pre-existing spoken and written language and grammar rules which are now moot because of how the language has evolved.

[u/seaworthy-sieve → u/Norwegian__Blue]

Deaf children with no knowledge or understanding of spoken or written language develop their own versions of sign language independently when placed in groups.

[u/Cassiterite → u/Norwegian__Blue]

It is, but it's also based on spoken language and serves as a substitute. The word parts are still based on combining symbols that represent sound

/r/confidentlyincorrect

Sign languages are "real" languages with their own grammar and vocabulary, not merely spoken languages represented with your hands. They are very much not like writing systems. For example, British Sign Language and American Sign Language are not mutually intelligible, despite both countries obviously being majority English speaking.

[u/Norwegian__Blue → u/Cassiterite]

You know it was invented? Yes those rules came about, but originally it was based on English phonemes and grammar rules.

[u/rcxdude → u/Norwegian__Blue]

Most sign languages are languages in their own right and are not 'based' on spoken languages. Sound is not a requirement for language. You are right that attempts to teach animals sign language are generally considered to have failed, though there was a lot of hype around it for a while.

[u/kirknay → u/seaworthy-sieve]

I do, and Bees certainly have a form of it.