Communication in Humans and Other Animals
Communication is a basic behaviour, found across animal species. Human language is often thought of as a unique system, which separates humans from other animals. This textbook serves as a guide to different types of communication, and suggests that each is unique in its own way: human verbal and nonverbal communication, communication in nonhuman primates, in dogs and in birds. Research questions and findings from different perspectives are summarized and integrated to show students similarities and differences in the rich diversity of communicative behaviours.
A core topic is how young individuals proceed from not being able to communicate to reaching a state of competent communicators, and the role of adults in this developmental process. Evolutionary aspects are also taken into consideration, and ideas about the evolution of human language are examined. The cross-disciplinary nature of the book makes it useful for courses in linguistics, biology, sociology and psychology, but it is also valuable reading for anyone interested in understanding communicative behaviour.
A core topic is how young individuals proceed from not being able to communicate to reaching a state of competent communicators, and the role of adults in this developmental process. Evolutionary aspects are also taken into consideration, and ideas about the evolution of human language are examined. The cross-disciplinary nature of the book makes it useful for courses in linguistics, biology, sociology and psychology, but it is also valuable reading for anyone interested in understanding communicative behaviour.
[Advances in Interaction Studies, 4] 2013. xi, 242 pp.
Publishing status: Available
Published online on 3 June 2013
Published online on 3 June 2013
© John Benjamins
Table of Contents
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Acknowledgements | pp. xi–xii
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1. Introduction | pp. 1–22
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2. Overview of biological signal systems | pp. 23–46
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3. Human language – its use and learning | pp. 47–78
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4. Human nonverbal communication | pp. 79–108
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5. Our closest relatives – nonhuman primates | pp. 109–138
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6. Man’s best friend – the dog | pp. 139–162
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7. Communication in birds | pp. 163–186
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8. Discussion and outlook – why language? | pp. 187–200
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Glossary | pp. 201–204
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Index | pp. 241–242
“This is a fascinating text, which bridges the gap between human and non-human communication. Whereas human spoken language is often considered qualitatively different from communication in other species, the authors successfully show the evolutionary continuum and thereby place human verbal interactions in a fascinating context. I hope the book will find a large audience.”
Per Jensen, Professor of Ethology, Linköping University
“"Communication in Humans and Other Animals" is a rare book that successfully bridges the gap between human and animal communication studies, doing justice to both areas. The communication systems of selected species are presented in an accessible manner, with a solid foundation of empirical studies. The full spectrum of communication modalities through different sensory channels is covered, as well as relevant theory and methodology. This would be an eminent choice of textbook for a course on comparative communication, with students coming from either linguistics, ethology, or communication science.”
Sverker Johansson, Lecturer in Physics, Jönköping University
“This text treats human language as one of many communicative systems in the animal world, a perspective that is often lacking in linguistics curricula, which tend to regard human language as a unique and isolated phenomenon. This welcome addition to the textbook literature gives a thorough introduction to the evolutionary basis for human language, and also gives a foundation for understanding the biological metaphors that are increasingly used in various branches of linguistics. The text does not assume any previous knowledge of linguistics or biology and should be suitable for students of both subjects.”
Jan-Olov Svantesson, Professor of General Linguistics, Lund University
Cited by (8)
Cited by eight other publications
Pesce, Emanuele & Giovanni Montana
Bergler, Christian, Simeon Q. Smeele, Stephen A. Tyndel, Alexander Barnhill, Sara T. Ortiz, Ammie K. Kalan, Rachael Xi Cheng, Signe Brinkløv, Anna N. Osiecka, Jakob Tougaard, Freja Jakobsen, Magnus Wahlberg, Elmar Nöth, Andreas Maier & Barbara C. Klump
Pleyer, Michael & Stefan Hartmann
Schötz, Susanne
Ongstad, Sigmund
Ongstad, Sigmund
Heinrich, Stefan & Stefan Wermter
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Subjects
Communication Studies
Interaction Studies
Philosophy
Main BIC Subject
CF: Linguistics
Main BISAC Subject
LAN009000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General