These forms of animal communication are symbolic in the sense of using a sound to stand in for an object or action, but there is no evidence for compositionality, or that they are truly generative and creative forms of communication in which speakers and listeners exchange information. Some dolphin species seem to have a variety of repetitive sound motifs (clicks) associated with hunting or social grouping.
A number of parrot species can mimic human sounds, and some Great Apes have been taught to make sign language gestures with their hands. Among primates, vervet monkeys ( Chlorocebus pygerythrus) produce three distinct alarm calls in response to the presence of snakes, leopards and eagles. Animal ‘language’ is nothing like human language.
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