Language vs Animal Communication – Linguistics Study Guide, Key Differences and
Comparative Analysis
Hockett's Nine Design Features - ANS ✔✔-he listed properties that set human and animal
communication systems apart
Mode of communication (found in all forms of communication) - ANS ✔✔-language must be
transmitted and received somehow
Ex. human- speaking with your voice and hearing with your ears
Ex. animal- auditory, visual, chemical, tactile
Semanticity and Pragmatic Function (all forms of communication) - ANS ✔✔Signals carry
meaning/ used for a useful purpose
Ex.human- the word dog refers to the concept of a dog
Ex. animal- warning others from danger
Interchangeability(found in some forms of animal and human language) - ANS ✔✔-Both send
and receive messages
-not all animals can send and receive messages
Ex. bee can perform a dance and bees can understand and act on the message- animal Male
whistling moths can produce sound with wings females cannot
Ex. human Someone can say im hungry and understand it and respond back
Cultural transmission( found in some forms of animal and human communication) - ANS
✔✔Some parts of language are learned through interaction with others not genetics
Ex. human- baby raised in Japan grows up speaking Japanese not English
Ex. animal- bird songs are genetically programmed
Comparative Analysis
Hockett's Nine Design Features - ANS ✔✔-he listed properties that set human and animal
communication systems apart
Mode of communication (found in all forms of communication) - ANS ✔✔-language must be
transmitted and received somehow
Ex. human- speaking with your voice and hearing with your ears
Ex. animal- auditory, visual, chemical, tactile
Semanticity and Pragmatic Function (all forms of communication) - ANS ✔✔Signals carry
meaning/ used for a useful purpose
Ex.human- the word dog refers to the concept of a dog
Ex. animal- warning others from danger
Interchangeability(found in some forms of animal and human language) - ANS ✔✔-Both send
and receive messages
-not all animals can send and receive messages
Ex. bee can perform a dance and bees can understand and act on the message- animal Male
whistling moths can produce sound with wings females cannot
Ex. human Someone can say im hungry and understand it and respond back
Cultural transmission( found in some forms of animal and human communication) - ANS
✔✔Some parts of language are learned through interaction with others not genetics
Ex. human- baby raised in Japan grows up speaking Japanese not English
Ex. animal- bird songs are genetically programmed
