At A Glance: Language
Onomatopeia
So why talk about onomatopeia at all? Edward Sapir (1949) saw speech as a non instinctive cultural function that was acquired through socialization. Thus, bow wow and meow sound differently to people from different cultures with different languages. Studying vervet monkeys tells us how different alarm calls are made to reflect different dangers. Robert Seyfarth examines these vocalizations and state that these sounds are not involuntary but rather, designed with intent and purpose. Are they words, per se? Studies using vocalizations to denote a leopard, eagle, or snake alarm call show that these specific calls do enact certain behaviours including standing, hiding or climbing a tree. Thus, while it may not be human language, it is close to language in that it bestows meaning on the sound being made. Let's look at Priscilla Dunstan's five (5) universal baby sounds.
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| Baby Talk With Priscilla Dunstan |
According to Dunstan these five (5) baby sounds are innate and include "NEH" (hungry), "OWH" (sleepy), "HEH" (discomfort), "EAIR" (lower gas) and "EH" (burp). Thus, it doesn't matter what language you speak or ethnic background you hail from you are now an expert on baby talk and can communicate with any baby around the world! If your still skeptical think about all the ways that you communicate on a daily basis without using language! What are some of the sounds you make to convey emotions such as happiness, desire, sadness, or boredom?
Non-Verbal Communication
Even language requires non-verbal communication to drive home meaning and intent. Desmond Morris explores the language of the body and how culture helps diversify non-verbal communication. As complex as an animal we may be, like our animal counter parts humans depend heavily on onomatopeia and non-verbal communication to communicate not only with one another but equally with non-human animals as well. Simply look at New Zealand's All Blacks Haka or the semantics of vervet monkey alarm calls for inspiration. If your still not convinced, think back to the last time you were in trouble with a parent or spouse. Before they said anything to you, did you know you were in trouble? If so, how?
The idea that the superiority of human language is so integral in our definition of what makes humanity unique is inevitably what leads us to be so human-centric towards non-human animals. It's easy for us to forget that like non-human animals, our humble beginnings were undoubtedly not that unlike the primates we study today. When you consider studies have shown that gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans have the intelligence necessary to talk through sign language, it begs to question our dominion over the animal kingdom. Who knew that by looking at a concept like onomatopeia you can inevitably open up a can of worms rich with debate and controversy.