How animals communicate with each other: language, movements

The animal world is amazing and incredibly interesting. Observe the habits of animals an exciting activity. Can they talk? How do animals communicate with each other? Do representatives of different subspecies understand each other?

Animal: the boundaries of the concept

Depending on the criteria taken for the basis, various interpretations of the word "animal" are given. In a narrow sense, these are mammals. In a broader sense, all four-legged. From the scientific point of view, animals are all those who can move, and those who have a nucleus in their cells. But what about the kinds that lead an immobile lifestyle. Or, on the contrary, about microorganisms constantly in motion? If we talk about how animals communicate with each other, then attention should be paid, mainly, to mammals, however, birds and fish also have their own languages.

The language of animals

Language is a complex sign system. And this is not surprising. Speaking of the human language, it is fundamentally different from the other sign systems in that it serves as a lingual expression of thoughts. Talking about how animals communicate with each other, it can be noted that in science there is a separate term denoting this process - the "language of animals". Four-legged individuals deliver information to their opponent not only with the help of sounds. They have a well developed sign language and facial expressions. The animals, of course, have more communication channels than humans. If you compare how animals and people communicate, then there are many differences. Their intentions, wills, desires, feelings and thoughts people mostly put in speech. That is, the main load goes to verbal communication.

Animals, on the contrary, actively use non - verbal means of communication. They have much more than people. In addition to the non-verbal means inherent in a person (postures, gestures, facial expressions), they use the body language (mainly with the help of the tail and ears). A big role in communication for them is played by smells. Thus, language as a system of phonemes and lexemes in animals is absent. The way animals communicate with each other is like symbols. Their language is, rather, the signals that they use to convey information to relatives.

Language of fish

Sounds, published by a person in the process of communication, are articulate speech. This is the ability of the speech apparatus to create phonemes of different forms of formation: gap, discontinuous, trembling, sonorous. It is not peculiar to any kind of animal. However, the language of sounds is inherent in many animals. Even some fish are able to publish them to inform others about the danger or attack. For example, the ramp hoots, the catfish can grunt, the flounder makes a bell ringing, the fish-toad hums, the scienna sings. The sound is born in them with the vibration of the gills, grind your teeth, squeeze the bladder. There are fish that use the external environment for the intentional creation of sounds. So, fox shark beats its tail with its tail during the hunt, freshwater predators in the pursuit of prey emerges.

Language of birds

Singing and chirping birds is not unconscious. In birds, there are many signals that they use in different situations. Uneven sounds are produced by birds, for example, when nesting and migrating, at the sight of enemies and the search for relatives. Their ability to communicate is emphasized in the works of oral folk art, where the hero who understands the birds is a part of nature. The hearing aid is better developed in birds than in other animals. They are more sensitive to people perceive sounds, are able to hear shorter and faster phonemes. Such abilities, given by nature, birds actively use. For example, pigeons are heard at a distance of several hundred meters.

In the language set of birds of each species, there are several songs that they receive with genes and assimilate in a flock. The ability of some birds to imitate and memorize is known. So, science knows the case when the African gray parrot Alex learned a hundred words and talked. He also managed to formulate a question that scientists could not get from primates. Lyrebird from Australia is able to mimic not only birds, but also other animals, as well as man-made sounds. Thus, the voice abilities of birds are great, but, I must say, little studied. Birds also use nonverbal drugs. If you carefully observe how animals communicate with each other, the language of movement will also be noticeable. For example, fluffy feathers speak of a readiness for a fight, a large open beak is a sign of alarm, its clicking is a threat.

Language of pets: cats

Each owner, observing the behavior of his pets, noticed that they also know how to talk. At the lessons of natural history and the surrounding world, we study how animals communicate with each other (grade 5). For example, cats can purr in different ways, if they ask for food when they rest. They mew alongside a man, but they remain silent or hiss with their relatives, using the body language for communication.

It is especially interesting to observe the position of their ears: vertically raised means attention, relaxed and extended forward - calm, directed back and pinched - threat, constant movement with ears - concentration. The tail of the furry creatures is an important alarm for others. If it is raised, then the cat is happy. When the tail is raised and fluffed, the beast is ready to attack. Omitted - a sign of concentration. Fast movements with a tail - the cat is nervous.

Language of pets: dogs

Illustrating how animals communicate with each other, we can say that the language of dogs is also diverse. They are able not only to bark, but also growl, howl. In this case, the sound of dogs is different. For example, a quiet and rare barking speaks of attracting attention, loud and lingering means danger, the presence of someone else's. A dog growls, defending itself, or guarding prey. If she howls, then she is lonely and sad. Sometimes she squeals, if someone hurt her.

The way rabbits communicate with each other through non-verbal means of communication. They rarely make sounds: mostly with great excitement and fright. However, their body language is well developed. Their long ears, capable of turning in different directions, serve as a source of information for them. To communicate with each other rabbits, just like cats and dogs, use the language of smells. These animals have special glands that form a smelling enzyme, by which they limit their territory.

Language of wild animals

Behavior and how animals communicate in the wild are similar to the habits of domestic animals. After all, much is transmitted through genes. It is known that by protecting themselves and guarding their territory, wild animals loudly and angrily scream. But the system of their linguistic signs is not limited to this. Wild animals communicate a lot. Their communication is complex and interesting. World-recognized most intelligent animals on the planet are dolphins. Their intellectual capabilities are not fully understood. It is known that they have a complex linguistic system. In addition to twitter, which is accessible to the human ear, they communicate with ultrasound for orientation in space. These amazing animals are actively in contact in the pack. When communicating, they call the names of the interlocutor, issuing an instant unique whistle. Certainly, the world of nature is original and fascinating. A man still has to study how animals communicate with each other. The language system, complex and exceptional, is inherent in many of our smaller brothers.