Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id MAA22021 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 25 Aug 2000 12:40:17 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D31017459C0@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Dolphins Show Language-Like Learning, Researchers Say Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 12:37:51 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Thanks for that Wade. v.interesting.
Vincent
> ----------
> From: Wade T.Smith
> Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2000 8:41 pm
> To: memetics list
> Subject: Fwd: Dolphins Show Language-Like Learning, Researchers Say
>
>
> ---------------- Begin Forwarded Message ----------------
>
> Date: 08/24/00 15:09
> Received: 08/24/00 15:25
>
> WASHINGTON (AP) - Researchers eavesdropping on the underwater signals
> between dolphins found that the mammals quickly learn and repeat intricate
> signals from their friends, an ability thought to be an important step
> toward evolving a language.
>
> Analysis of more than 1,700 whistle signals exchanged between bottlenose
> dolphins swimming along the Moray Firth coast of Scotland showed that the
> animals routinely responded to each other with matching signals, often
> echoing identical whistles within seconds of each other.
>
> This trading of signals suggests the dolphins are capable of "vocal
> learning," a prerequisite for evolving a spoken language, according to
> researcher Vincent M. Janik. A report on his study appears Friday in the
> journal Science.
>
> Janik, a Scottish biologist now at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
> in Massachusetts, said that the signaling pattern of the dolphins is
> similar to what experts believe happened when ancient human beings first
> began organized speech.
>
> Matching or labeling communication, he said in the study, "has been
> hypothesized to have been an important step in the evolution of human
> language."
>
> Although birds, such as parrots, are well known for their ability to
> imitate sounds made by others, "bottlenose dolphins are the only nonhuman
> mammals in which matching interactions with learned signal types have been
> found."
>
> Janik said that the dolphins apparently use the matching whistle patterns
> to address each other and that the sounds may play a role in signaling
> membership of a group.
>
> Earlier studies have shown that young dolphins adopt a signature whistle
> pattern, rather like a name, early in life. Janik's study showed that the
> mammals may use these signature whistles as a way of addressing a specific
> animal who may be swimming many feet away.
>
> "Janik provides important evidence that vocal labeling is used by wild
> dolphins for social communication," Peter L. Tyack, a Woods Hole
> researcher, said in a commentary in Science.
>
>
>
> ----------------- End Forwarded Message -----------------
>
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This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
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