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CommunicationCommunication

Transmission of a Transmission of a message from a source message from a source

to a receiverto a receiver

Model of CommunicationModel of Communication

SENDER RECEIVER

SENDERRECEIVER

CHANNEL

CHANNEL

ChannelsChannels

ChemicallyChemically

By pheremonesBy pheremones

VisuallyVisually

Visual communicationVisual communication

AurallyAurally

Sounds are used by many creaturesSounds are used by many creatures DolphinsDolphins WhalesWhales BirdsBirds MonkeysMonkeys ApesApes PeoplePeople

TalkingTalking

A definition of A definition of talkingtalking

The intricate The intricate manipulation of oral manipulation of oral

sound to convey sound to convey meaningmeaning

All kinds of animals All kinds of animals manipulate sound to manipulate sound to

convey meaning.convey meaning.Are they talking?Are they talking?

A question of vocabularyA question of vocabulary

Birds have about 35 “words”Birds have about 35 “words” Monkeys about 50 “words”Monkeys about 50 “words” Chimps about 300 “words”Chimps about 300 “words” Humans (in English alone) about Humans (in English alone) about

750,000 words750,000 wordsWhy this huge difference?

Why Why communicate at communicate at

all?all?To make connections To make connections with other members with other members

of your speciesof your species

The greater the The greater the need for need for

connection, the connection, the greater the greater the vocabularyvocabulary

What needs?What needs?

First, self-First, self-protection, also protection, also

known as known as survivalsurvival

Two ways to do Two ways to do thatthat

First, Safety in NumbersFirst, Safety in Numbers

Be the biggest badass in Be the biggest badass in the neighborhoodthe neighborhood

Homonids had neither Homonids had neither numbers nor natural numbers nor natural

weaponsweapons

Human AncestorsHuman Ancestors

Humans Humans cooperatecooperate

Other homonids don’t Other homonids don’t cooperatecooperate

Hunters cooperateHunters cooperate

Second need -- Second need -- reproductionreproduction

Third Need – Third Need – to bind the group to bind the group

together together

SENDER RECEIVER

SENDERRECEIVER

CHANNEL

CHANNEL