350 WORD DISCUSSION PROMPT

In Module 3 and the film, Nova Science Now - How Smart are Animals, you learned animals besides humans communicate with each other. If you recall, during Module 1, communication refers to the process participants use to exchange information, ideas, needs and desires. Communication can be accomplished through a variety of different means, including speech, language, gestures, and body movements. Language, however, is defined as the systematic and conventional use of sounds (or signs or symbols) for the purpose of communication and self-expression. It has also been defined as the socially shared code for representing concepts through the use of arbitrary symbols and rule-governed combinations of those symbols (you can call this grammar, if you like). Most, if not all, scientists agree that animals communicate. But, scientists disagree as to whether animals truly have “language.”

PROMPT: In your opinion and based on evidence, do you think animals use language or are humans the only species to have language? In your response you may want to define language.

REFERENCES: Please be sure to provide AT LEAST 2 citations/references for your responses. References for this response can come from reputable, web-based sources, as well as your textbook, journal articles, and books.