An ethological approach to human language: Nô plays as an example

Abstract

In the framework of our ethological studies on human language, we have made careful and repeated observations of many No performances at No theatres, with the aid of videos, in order to see what the relationship is between the language and movements of the actors in No plays. We have come to the conclusion that No plays are highly dependent on the language (Utai); in brief, we can scarcely understand the meanings of the movements without following the words of Utai. This finding also indicates the large dependence of human behaviour on language.