The Language Learning Ability of a Specific Animal - Research Paper Example

? The language learning ability of a specific animal al Affiliation) Imitation is considered as an advanced behavior which involves the observation and replication of other’s actions and behaviors. Imitation is a vital part of social learning through which culture and tradition are developed. The transfer of information, especially customs and behavior down the generation and between individuals is made possible through imitation. Studies, researches and experiments have shown the imitation does not require genetic inheritance but rather a conducive environment. There have been a vast number of researches and experiments conducted on apes with the key focus and objective being on the animal’s capacity to imitate human action immediately after demonstration. Symbolic ability is usually required for imitation in cases where the demonstrated action to be imitated is found complex for the animal. Deferred imitation is an evidence of the animal’s ability to encode the model action in memory and is able to retrieve it for later formation (Call & Tomasello, 1996). Introduction Different animal species have different methods and ways of communication. Among the various species of animal within the earth surface, the human species has the most complicated and sophisticated methods through which they communicate and interact. While other animals use simple special sounds in communication, the human species uses speech containing words which are relayed in a special and complicated manner in order to pass the right information. Other animal species uses different methods of communication such as facial gestures, smell, touch, visual signals and special sounds in order to pass the message of attraction, repulsion, warning of predators and communication about the food sources and availability. Most of these communication forms exhibited in animals can either be learned or occurs naturally. A method of communication across the different species has since been thoroughly researched with different test conducted on animals like monkeys and birds. The ability to understand the human language has since been studied and experiments conducted on how to improve the ability. The closest the research has come to achieving the goal of cross species communication is through animal training to be able to understand the human gestures and sounds in order to perform specific tasks. A part form monkeys, dogs, birds and dolphins showed the highest potential and ability to be easily trained to understand the human gestures and sounds. In the process of training these animals to understand the human gestures and special sounds, the animals’ ability to imitate the human communication forms were also studied. The studies, research and experiments have shown that only a few animal species have the ability to imitate the human method of communication. Even though the animals have the ability to imitate the human speech, their understanding of the same is limited and has been since shown to improve especially in monkeys. Given the close relation in the species of the human and that of the monkey, the expectations are high in monkey’s ability to imitate and further understand the human form of communication than in any other animal (Call & Tomasello, 1996). Research and studies have shown that animals such as Dolphins, dogs, monkeys and birds have their forms of communication which can be closely related to the way human species communicate. Even though the ability of these animals to communicate is limited to their own species, they have the ability to communicate something understandable to the human species. For instance the Dolphins can only make specific sound tracks in an effort to communicate with their kind. They have shown great effort in their ability to understand the signals and gestures put forward by the humans under training to enhance their communication with the Dolphins. The Dolphins have the ability to be trained to respond to familiar sounds and certain gestures. There have been many failed attempts by researchers and doctors to train the monkeys, especially the chimpanzee to speak the way humans do. The human language is complicated and requires a lot of different vocal tracks in order to achieve, most of which the chimpanzee lack. The slight biological difference exhibited between the human and the chimpanzee hinders the chimpanzee form understanding and communicating the human language given its high level. However, the chimpanzees have a higher ability to imitate the human method of communication at a greater level as compared to other animals. Teaching non vocal language such as sign signal and language, keyboard symbols and plastic token have been successfully achieved in animals such as chimpanzees which has greatly improved their communication ability with the human (Meltzoff & Gopnik,1989). Research and experiments shows that the animals ability to imitate the human form of communication and other communication methods highly depend on the environmental factors and training under which the animal is taken through. The ability can be greatly improved through training as studies have shown in monkeys and dolphins. The ability of animals to imitate novel action is a debate that scientist have tried to solve through a number of researches and experiment. It is argued that imitation is solemnly a human train and the other animals can only be trained to imitate especially monkeys. Certain procedures such as the “Do as I do” imitative procedures by the Hayes have been used to display the imitative ability of the chimpanzees. Much lower matching degrees have been however found in replication of the Hayes imitative procedure between the monkeys and the models used in the procedure (Hayes & Hayes, 1952). Other studies and imitation research which focused on copying fidelity reported high matching degrees between the monkey’s movements and those of the models especially in movement patterns. Studies and research done by Derek lyons showed how great the ability of chimpanzees was in imitating human behavior. In the experiments, the chimpanzee was shown how to retrieve food from a box through a scientist who demonstrated the procedure while a chimpanzee was made to watch. The research and experiment reported that the chimpanzee did a replica of what was demonstrated by the scientist. The experiment showed high imitative ability exhibited by the chimpanzee close to that of human when it was further carried out on sixteen children using the same procedure (Hayes & Hayes, 1952). Imitation is considered a vital part in the adaption of animals given that the animals learn and adapt through imitation of others. The ability to imitate varies greatly across different species of animals with chimpanzees recording the highest ability according to most researches, studies and experiments. It is believed that true imitation ability is held by the human species given that simple imitation through sight is not arguable enough to be considered true imitation. After humans, chimpanzees have exhibited a high ability to imitate as compared to other animal species. This has been related to the fact that the human and the chimpanzee share certain genetic traits given the close relation of the species. Scientist and researchers argue that true imitation incorporates purpose and innovation rather than a simple replication of what is seen by the eyes. The imitation exhibited by animal’s ranges from possible curiosity to imitation as a function of survival. Among the successful experiments to demonstrate true imitative behavior in animals done on different species of animals including birds and apes among other animals, the experimental results achieved from the ape experiments showed advanced imitative ability among the apes, especially in chimpanzees. The results provided evidence of true imitation that is close to the one exhibited by the human species. The ape had the ability to learn and remember what was imitated unlike the birds which only displayed visual imitation thus displaying only what it had seen. In parrots, however, studies have demonstrated their ability to imitate human speech. It does not go further than that since the bird can only remember and imitate what it repeatedly hears but lack the ability to understand what is imitated. In other experiments, it has been demonstrated that imitative behaviors that were originally limited to human species were experienced in chimpanzee further indicating their ability in true imitation. Such behaviors as the capacity of neonates to replicate the facial movements of their adult counterparts have been exhibited in chimpanzee contrary to original believes that only human being exhibited such abilities. The behavior and imitation is considered very vital in the development of the infant-mother relationship. Experiments have reported imitative abilities in chimpanzee in response to human behavior such as tongue protrusion, hand opening, lip smacking and control conditions such as closing and opening of the eyes among others. Some of the imitative responses are only present at an early development stage and are confined to a temporal window. Research suggests that some of the imitative capacities in chimpanzees are affiliated with communication functions (Call & Tomasello, 1996). Experiments have proven that the imitative performance exhibited by the chimpanzees occur in their early relations with the social partners. The imitative capabilities in chimpanzees have been shown to develop with time and are considered to be more accurate index of natural ability rather than imitation actions on objects. The later entails more cognitive capacity than the former. In a study to assess the imitative ability of chimpanzees through facial and vocal action response test using both communicative and structures test paradigms, it was noted that mouth opening imitation was present in both test paradigms. There was a great agreement between infant actions and demonstration found in communicative paradigm. The results led to a conclusion that the imitative abilities are not limited and unique to human species but the chimpanzees exhibit a higher ability to learn and imitate. According to Meltzoff & Gopnik, new behavior has to be learned on the foundation of observation alone before an action is qualified as an imitation. The initial imitation results are usually attributed to processes that are less sophisticated like social facilitation rather than imitation. The ability of apes to imitate is not a simple yes or no answer given the different variations that exists in the cognitive abilities of the animals such as age and environment. There are conditions under which certain cognitive behaviors such as imitation can be displayed by the apes (1989). Even though apes, especially chimpanzees do not have similar brain as the humans, they have the ability to demonstrate behaviors that are similar to the human behaviors given their close genetic relations. If reared in human typical environment, might great apes like the chimpanzee have the ability to demonstrate some of the cognitive abilities and behaviors of human. Through enculturation process (upbringing the apes from infancy under human-like conditions) cognitive behaviors such as imitation is greatly developed in chimpanzees. This directs the apes down a cognitive path which is very different from the wild thus enhancing their ability to behave in a human-like manner. Tomsello and partners argues that imitation behavior development is contingent upon a particular ontogenetic nexus in which the ability to imitate is only achieved through a combination of attention strategies of learning in the process of enculturation (1996). The minds of juvenile chimpanzees are considered to be infinitely pliable for easy acquisition of human like behaviors and abilities as a result of enculturation. The presence of inherited neural substrate in chimpanzees makes their ability to imitate human like behavior a notch higher than those of other animal species. In conclusion, the chimpanzees have a high ability to imitate human behaviors as compared to other animals given the close genetic relation. The existence of a neural substrate in chimpanzee enhances their ability to develop cognitive behaviors such as imitation of human-like characteristics. In addition to the neural substrate, enculturation also plays a very significant role in enhancing the ability of chimpanzees to imitate. Even though the imitative abilities demonstrated by the chimpanzee might not be considered as true imitations, there are the closest to the human imitative abilities. References Call, J., & Tomasello, M. (1996). The effects of humans on the cognitive development of apes. In A. E. Russon, K. A.Bard, & S. T. Parker (Eds.), Reaching into thought: The minds of the great apes (pp. 371– 403). New York: Cam-bridge University Press. Hayes, K. J., & Hayes, C. (1952). Imitation in a home-raised chimpanzee. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 45, 450– 459 Meltzoff, A. N., & Gopnik, A. (1989). On linking nonverbal imitation, representation, and language learning in the first 2 years of life. In G. E. Speidel & K. E. Nelson (Eds.),The many faces of imitation in language learning (pp. 23–51). New York: Springer-Verlag Read More