In the 1980s, a bonobo named Kanzi amazed researchers by learning to communicate with humans in an extraordinary way. Instead of using speech or gestures, Kanzi used a keyboard with abstract symbols that represented objects and actions. By selecting these symbols in sequence, he could make requests, answer questions, and even refer to objects that weren’t present. This remarkable ability led to a heated debate: had Kanzi truly learned language?
Language is more than just communication. It involves sharing thoughts, stories, opinions, questions, and ideas about the past or future, as well as imagined scenarios. Language is open-ended, allowing for an infinite number of expressions. Many researchers argue that only humans possess true language, while the calls and gestures used by other species are not considered language. These forms of communication typically convey specific messages and do not combine to express more complex ideas. For example, a monkey might have a specific call to warn about a snake, but with language, there are countless ways to convey the message “watch out for the snake.”
Currently, no animal communication system exhibits the same open-endedness as human language. We cannot definitively know what animals think, and it’s possible that our definitions of language and our methods of measurement do not apply to them. However, as far as we know, only humans have language. While humans speak around 7,000 distinct languages, any child can learn any language, suggesting that the biological mechanisms underlying language are common to all humans.
What does language mean for humanity? What capabilities does it provide, and how did we develop it? The exact moment we acquired this ability remains uncertain. Chimps and bonobos are our closest living relatives, but the lineage leading to humans diverged from other great apes over four million years ago. In that time, many species existed—now extinct—which complicates our understanding of whether they had language or something similar.
Great apes may offer clues about the origins of language, as they tend to gesture more freely than they vocalize. Language may have begun as gestural communication, evolving during the Pleistocene, around 2 to 3 million years ago, with the emergence of the genus Homo, which eventually led to our species, Homo sapiens. During this time, brain size increased significantly, and bipedalism allowed for more effective communication.
There may have been a shift from gestural communication to gestural language, moving from pointing and pantomiming to more abstract forms of signing. This abstraction would have reduced the reliance on visual cues, paving the way for spoken language. However, the transition to articulate speech likely occurred later, as it requires a vocal tract of a specific shape. Even our closest ancestors, the Neanderthals and Denisovans, had vocal tracts that were not optimal, although they likely possessed some vocal abilities and possibly even language. Only in humans is the vocal tract fully optimized for speech.
Spoken language allows for the use of hands in other activities, such as tool-making and transport. Thus, it may have been the development of speech, rather than language itself, that contributed to the dominance of our species. Language is closely linked to complex thought, perception, and motor functions, making it challenging to disentangle its biological origins.
Some of the most profound questions remain: To what extent did the capacity for language shape humanity, and how did humanity, in turn, shape language? What came first—the multitude of scenarios we can imagine, or our ability to communicate them?
Engage in a symbolic communication exercise inspired by Kanzi the bonobo. Pair up with a classmate and create a set of abstract symbols to represent various objects and actions. Use these symbols to communicate with each other, attempting to convey complex ideas without using spoken or written language. Reflect on the challenges and insights gained from this exercise.
Participate in a structured debate on whether animals possess language. Divide into two groups, with one arguing that animals have language and the other arguing they do not. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments. This will help you explore different perspectives on what constitutes language.
Create a timeline that traces the evolution of language from gestural communication to spoken language. Include key milestones mentioned in the article, such as the emergence of the genus Homo and the development of the vocal tract. This visual representation will aid in understanding the complex history of language evolution.
Join a workshop to explore the relationship between language and thought. Discuss how language might shape our perception of reality and our ability to imagine scenarios. Engage in thought experiments to consider how different forms of communication might influence cognitive processes.
Challenge yourself to create a story using a limited set of symbols or words, similar to the constraints faced by early humans or animals like Kanzi. Share your story with the class and discuss how constraints impact creativity and communication. This activity will deepen your appreciation for the open-ended nature of human language.
In the 1980s, a bonobo named Kanzi learned to communicate with humans in a remarkable way—not through speech or gestures, but by using a keyboard of abstract symbols representing objects and actions. By selecting these symbols in sequence, he was able to make requests, answer questions from human researchers, and refer to objects that weren’t physically present. Kanzi’s abilities sparked debate over a significant question: had he learned language?
Language, as we understand it, is more specific than mere communication. It involves sharing thoughts, stories, opinions, questions, and ideas about the past or future, as well as imagined scenarios. Language is fundamentally open-ended, allowing for an infinite number of expressions. Many researchers believe that only humans possess true language, while the calls and gestures used by other species are not considered language. These forms of communication typically correspond to specific messages and do not combine to express more complex ideas. For instance, a monkey species might have a specific warning call for a particular predator, like a snake, but with language, there are countless ways to convey the message “watch out for the snake.”
Currently, no animal communication appears to exhibit the same open-endedness as human language. We cannot definitively know what animals think, and it’s possible that our definitions of language and our methods of measurement do not apply to them. However, as far as we know, only humans have language. While humans speak around 7,000 distinct languages, any child can learn any language, suggesting that the biological mechanisms underlying language are common to all humans.
What does language mean for humanity? What capabilities does it provide, and how did we develop it? The exact moment we acquired this ability remains uncertain. Chimps and bonobos are our closest living relatives, but the lineage leading to humans diverged from other great apes over four million years ago. In that time, many species existed—now extinct—which complicates our understanding of whether they had language or something similar.
Great apes may offer clues about the origins of language, as they tend to gesture more freely than they vocalize. Language may have begun as gestural communication, evolving during the Pleistocene, around 2 to 3 million years ago, with the emergence of the genus Homo, which eventually led to our species, Homo sapiens. During this time, brain size increased significantly, and bipedalism allowed for more effective communication.
There may have been a shift from gestural communication to gestural language, moving from pointing and pantomiming to more abstract forms of signing. This abstraction would have reduced the reliance on visual cues, paving the way for spoken language. However, the transition to articulate speech likely occurred later, as it requires a vocal tract of a specific shape. Even our closest ancestors, the Neanderthals and Denisovans, had vocal tracts that were not optimal, although they likely possessed some vocal abilities and possibly even language. Only in humans is the vocal tract fully optimized for speech.
Spoken language allows for the use of hands in other activities, such as tool-making and transport. Thus, it may have been the development of speech, rather than language itself, that contributed to the dominance of our species. Language is closely linked to complex thought, perception, and motor functions, making it challenging to disentangle its biological origins.
Some of the most profound questions remain: To what extent did the capacity for language shape humanity, and how did humanity, in turn, shape language? What came first—the multitude of scenarios we can imagine, or our ability to communicate them?
Language – A system of symbols and rules used for meaningful communication. – In psychology, language is studied to understand how humans process and produce speech and how it influences cognitive development.
Communication – The process of transmitting information and meaning between individuals through a shared system of symbols, signs, or behavior. – Effective communication is essential in therapy sessions to ensure that the therapist and client understand each other’s perspectives.
Evolution – The gradual development of organisms and cognitive processes over time through natural selection and adaptation. – The evolution of the human brain has been a central topic in understanding the development of complex cognitive functions.
Thought – The mental process of considering, reasoning, or reflecting on ideas and concepts. – Philosophers have long debated the nature of thought and its relationship to language and consciousness.
Species – A group of organisms that share common characteristics and can interbreed to produce fertile offspring. – The study of different species’ cognitive abilities can provide insights into the evolution of intelligence.
Gestures – Movements of the body, especially the hands and arms, that express ideas or emotions. – Gestures play a crucial role in nonverbal communication and can enhance or alter the meaning of spoken language.
Humanity – The quality of being human, encompassing the traits, behaviors, and cultural achievements of human beings. – Philosophers often explore the concept of humanity to understand what it means to live a meaningful life.
Origins – The point or place where something begins, arises, or is derived. – The origins of human consciousness remain a profound mystery and a central question in both psychology and philosophy.
Abstract – Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence. – Abstract thinking allows individuals to process complex concepts and engage in higher-order reasoning.
Perception – The process by which individuals interpret sensory information to represent and understand the environment. – Perception is a key area of study in psychology, as it influences how we experience and interact with the world.