Abstract
Segmental units in nonhuman animal vocalization as a window into meaning, structure, and the evolution of language
Highlights
The comparative method, comparing traits across various taxa, has been an essential tool in understanding complex behavior, for systems that, like language or birdsong, do not leave fossil evidence
Studying human language from a similar outside perspective as we study animal vocalizations can lead to insights that lead to testable hypotheses in other species
If alien researchers were to treat spoken human language the same way that we animal communication researchers analyze animal vocalizations, they would likely miss many of the generalizations that have been so thoroughly researched in phonology
Summary
The comparative method, comparing traits across various taxa, has been an essential tool in understanding complex behavior, for systems that, like language or birdsong, do not leave fossil evidence. Comparative research with nonhuman animals has made it clear that human language is built from a broad network of connected sub-processes and behaviors (Fitch, 2018). Studying human language from a similar outside perspective as we study animal vocalizations can lead to insights that lead to testable hypotheses in other species.
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