Week 10.2 Language linked Abilities in Animals

高評価: 4件

再生: 199回

公開日: 2020年12月10日

In this video we continue our comparison of Human Language and Animal Communication Systems. We begin by examining some of the anatomical differences between human and non-human primate vocal tracts that give us the right set-up for the vocal-aural (speech) channel. We then look at two case studies of animals that have been claimed in popular media to show that these animals possess language abilities: Alex, the Grey Parrot studied by Irene Pepperberg, and Chaser, the Border Collie studied by John Pilley. We see that while these cases show us that the general cognitive abilities, and especially the drawing of inference, are perhaps more advanced in these animals than we might expect, they do not appear to show anything that we would tend to classify as language. We conclude by taking a look at the Forbidden Experiment in Zebra Finches, which reveals that the well-formedness of bird song is biologically conditioned, analogously to the claim of an innate Universal Grammar in humans.

For additional materials such as slides and handouts visit: http://ling101.com/plin0006/

Chapters:
00:00 - Trailer
00:24 - Introduction
02:03 - The vocal tract in humans and other primates
07:54 - Cognitive abilities specific to human language
08:44 - Can animals be taught language?
09:52 - Alex, the grey parrot
14:35 - Chaster, the border collie
18:20 - Zebra finches and the forbidden experiment
24:34 - Summary

Credits:
Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
Chaser clip: ABC News - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6479QAJuz8
Zebra Finch clip: BBC Horizon - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nx7n4