Which of the following properties of language are found in at least some naturally occurring communication systems in nonhuman animals? Choose two correct answers; you must select both correct answers to get credit for this question.

Question

Which of the following properties of language are found in at least some naturally occurring communication systems in nonhuman animals? Choose two correct answers; you must select both correct answers to get credit for this question.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks which properties of language appear in at least some naturally occurring communication systems in nonhuman animals, and it requires selecting two options.
Option 1: Communicative. This is a foundational property of language in humans, and many nonhuman animal signaling systems are clearly communicative, meaning they are used to convey information from one individual to another, affecting behavior or responses. The presence of intent to convey information in animal calls (e.g., alarm calls, mating signals) demonstrates this communicative function, even if the messages are not as flexible or creative as human language.
Option 2: Arbitrary symbols. In human language, many symbols are arbitrary with respect to their meanings; the link between a word's sound and its meaning is conventional and not inherently tied to the referent. Among nonhuman animals, most iconic signals have motivated or motivated-like connections between signal form and function, often with naturalistic or iconic cues (e.g., alarm calls that resemble the threat or context). Direct arbitrariness (where the signal form bears no resemblance to its meaning) is less clearly demonstrated in natural animal communication, so this property is less consistently evidenced across species, though some variation may exist. Overall, arbitrary-symbol use in a fully symbolic and conventionalized sense is not widely supported as a general feature of nonhuman animal communication, unlike human language.
Option 3: Multiple levels of structure. This refers to hierarchical organization (e.g., phonology, morphology, syntax) that allows complex combinations beyond a single signal. While some animal communication systems show combinatorial patterns or sequences, they typically do not exhibit the full, recursive hierarchical structure characteristic of human language. Thus, this property is not widely documented as a feature of nonhuman animal communication systems at the level found in human language.
Option 4: Dynamic. If “Dynamic” means flexible, evolving, and context-dependent use of signals, then many animal signaling systems are indeed dynamic: signals can change with context, audience, or learning, and animals may adjust signaling strategies over development or social groups. This dynamic aspect is observed across various species and communicative contexts, reflecting adaptability beyond rigid, fixed signaling.
In summary, the two properties that are found in at least some naturally occurring nonhuman animal communications are: communicative use of signals, and some degree of dynamic signaling behavior. The other properties—arbitrary symbolic systems and multi-level hierarchical structure—are not consistently documented as features of nonhuman animal communication to the same extent as in human language, though there may be exceptions or partial instances in specific species. It is important to recognize the nuance: not all nonhuman systems exhibit every feature, but the presence of communicative signaling and adaptability is well-supported in natural settings.

PSC 135 001 SQ 2025 Lecture 25 Quiz: Fundamentals of Language

Which of the following properties of language are found in at least some naturally occurring communication systems in nonhuman animals? Choose two correct answers; you must select both correct answers to get credit for this question.

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