Will fully developed communication with animals ever be possible?
The idea that humans can communicate with animals has been debated for many years. This essay seeks to answer whether fully developed interspecies communication is possible. It does so by examining current scientific views on the subject and how technology can help to achieve this goal. It takes the conclusion that full communication may in fact be possible in the future.
There are many forms of communication whether it is through “activity or inactivity, words or silence.” (Watzlawick, Beavin, & Jackson, 1967). Communication is not just verbal language; it can be achieved simply through body movements and various other behavioural activities. Communication, though the origin is not fully known, has been used on Earth for many years and will continue to be throughout time. (Miller, 2005). There are many theories on how communication came into being, the most common one being that it started with gestures and gradually evolved through verbal grunts accompanied by the original gestures finally producing the foundations of language. (Corballis, 2002).
These original gestures and grunts can be seen today in the primate species’, for example; apes and chimps. Heart states that facial expressions and body language are used along with regular voice calls when primate species communicates amongst themselves. (2011). Considering that studies of previous bone structures found over the years show that the human race evolved from the primates, this behavioural activity seen in modern day descendants lends strength to this specific theory. (Beard, 2004). These obvious signs of communication among the monkey kingdoms inhabitants also gives life to the reasoning that other species like dolphin’s and birds also have ways to communicate intraspecies.
While observing animal communication is interesting, some scientists have taken one step further and are attempting to intercommunicate with animals themselves. Prunty is of the opinion that “nature, animals, and inanimate objects can communicate a message if a person consciously or unconsciously perceives a meaning from the non-human source.” (2004). Smith however questions whether this is ‘true’ communication: “We [as humans] limit our communication with animals to our own awareness and ability to understand. Animals watch us and learn to communicate on a level that’s real or acceptable to us.” (2009).
Studies have shown that humans are not the only ones who converse, and have taken on various experiments to learn how other species communicate within their groups and if there is a possibility of fully developed interspecies communication. One such scientist was M. Keith Chen. (M. Keith Chen, n.d., n.a.,). Chen’s experiments on Capuchin monkeys were to discover their capacity to understand the concept of money. He describes how the system of trading coin-like disks for food was accepted remarkably well into the capuchin society. When gambling with the food tokens was introduced, the monkeys acted human like showing signs of weighing losses more heavily against the possible gains. This shows that like a lot of humans, many capuchin monkeys have an aversion to loss. (Chen, 2006). Through Chen’s experiments it has been shown that at least the primates of the world are capable of a form of human intelligence. What scientists are now trying to achieve is how can exact meanings be distinguished from the various ways of communication each animal uses?
While the human race has many different languages and complex ways of communication, animals are more simple minded. (Robinson, 2003). They do not have fully verbal languages meaning that even if they do verbalise some things in barks, squawks, or grunts etc., their communication relies heavily on body language and more particularly senses; like smell. (Robinson, 2003). This makes it a lot harder to distinguish links between certain actions and specific meanings because animal communication is not as straight forward as human languages. Body language and senses such as smell and touch must be added into the equation.
There’s also the dilemma that currently observing animals in their natural habitat is difficult and sometimes dangerous. “Animals respond to disturbance from humans in the same way as they respond to the risk of predation, by avoiding areas of high risk, either completely or by using them for limited periods.” (Gill, Sutherland, & Watkinson, 1996). For example; monkeys and other primates prefer to spend time in the upper limbs of trees, dolphins stay underwater for great lengths of time, and many wild animals will flee when approached.
Another limitation at this time is the vast amount of animal species out there. (How many different kinds of animals are there?, n.d., n.a.,). The large numbers of different species makes communicating with all animals next to impossible because even after finding a way to understand meanings behind animals’ behavioural activities, it will take a long of time to put the process into action and log the progress of every single animal species on Earth. It may take time, but it is possible. While there are various obstacles holding us back at the moment, the future may just hold the answers.
“Technology has always flourished for the gain of mankind.” (Panchoo, 2008). Cars were invented for transport, electricity for light and heat, cameras and video cameras to document things and various other inventions. Recently, scientists have researched into communication with animals through technology. One scientist is Denise Herzing who with help from a research team is currently building a ‘dolphin translator’ prototype. The aim for this device is to record, interpret and respond to the numerous squeaks and clicks made by the dolphins in their natural underwater habitat. (Cukrov, 2011). Joining forces with another researcher named Thad Starner, (Thad Starner, n.d., n.a.,), Herzing and her team are working to create a format of communication to develop a mutually-understood language using natural sounds of the dolphins. (Dr. Denise L Herzing, n.d., n.a.,). This chosen task referred to as the CHAT [Cetacean Hearing and Telemetry] program will be much easier to achieve than trying to decode the entire dolphin language.
The CHAT program is only one example of how technology is being used to help humans communicate with the many different animal species on Earth. While certain aspects currently limit us from achieving fully developed communication, with the advancement rate of technology there is a high chance that other programs, tools and inventions will help further research and make it easier to achieve our goal. While some communication processes are in the making, more time will be needed before fully-developed communication is achievable. With time, the possibility of achieving this goal in the future is highly possible.
Reference list:
(1) Chen, K. 2006, “How basic are behavioural biases? Evidence from Capuchin monkey trading behaviour”, The University of Chicago.
(2) Corballis, M. 2002 “From Hand to Mouth: The Origins of Language”, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, p. 183.
(3) Gill, J., Sutherland, W., Watkinson, A. 1996, “A method to quantify the effects of human disturbance on animal populations”, Journal of applied ecology.
(4) Heart, S. 2011, “Lost in the Brouhaha: Apes’ Own Communication”, Animal communication project.
(5) Miller, K. 2005, Communication theories: Perspectives, processes, and contexts (2nd ed.), New York: McGraw Hill.
(6) Panchoo, O. 2008, “The pros and cons of advancing technology”, Helium inc.
(7) Prunty, R. 2004, “Defining communication”, Com 422 – Baldwin.
(8) Robinson, W. 2003, “Language in social worlds”, Blackwell Publishing, p. 79.
(9) Smith, P. 1993, “Animals: Our return to wholeness”, Pegasus Publications.
(10)Watzlawick, P., Beavin, J., Jackson, B. 1967, “Pragmatics of human communication: A study of interactional patterns, pathologies, and paradoxes”, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
(11) Beard, C. 2004, “The hunt for the dawn monkey: unearthing the origins of monkeys, apes and humans”, University of California press, Ltd.
Websites used:
Cukrov, C. 2011, Talk with the animals: dolphin translator, viewed 14th October 2011,
Dr. Denise L Herzing, n.d., n.a., viewed 14th October 2011,
How many different kinds of animals are there?, n.d., n.a., viewed 15th October 2001, <http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/how-many-different-kinds-of-animals-are-there>
M. Keith Chen, n.d., n.a., viewed 15th October 2011,
Thad Starner, n.d., n.a., viewed 15th October 2011,
