Orca and Human Communication

Intro Initial Hypothesis – Orca communication consists of few gestures and limited vocal sounds such as clicks and whistles, while humans’ advanced communication has allowed symbolic language and collective learning, enabling us to continuously progress in knowledge, skills and technology.

Verbal Communication Similarities and Differences Humans use speech Orcas use clicks, whistles and pulsed calls Whistles – close-range or private communication; coordination of behavioural interactions Pulsed calls – group recognition and coordination of behaviour. (SeaWorld, 2015) Dr John Ford: orca pods have individual dialects Calves develop calls from their mothers (Org, 2015) Vocalisation restricted and used for hunting and navigation Dr Noam Chomsky: language is unique to humans; comes naturally because our brains are unique; other animals lack ‘language organ’ (Patent, 1998)

Orcas use gestures Head-butting and jaw-snapping show aggression Breaching and pec-slapping not understood (SeaWorld, 2015) Ingrid Visser – Orca research trust in New Zealand

Differences Orcas: Gestures used infrequently; messages/emotions are not as complex. Paul Watzlawick: humans communicate verbally and non-verbally. (Eppling, 2008) Humans interpret messages deeply by identifying emotions and attitudes underlying verbal communication. Orcas do not have the vocal ability to share abstract ideas Humans developed symbolic language and collective learning

Effects of Differences David Christian: symbolic language allows humans to describe something hypothetical or something that doesn’t exist. Communicate hunting, farming and social interaction Communicate about past and future Expand on previous information and knowledge Continuously build our technology. Colonised the whole earth (Christian, 2015)

Conclusion Orcas communicate using gestures and vocal sounds such as clicks and whistles, and they use these mainly to hunt and navigate. Humans communicate using a range of methods including talk, gesture, tone and facial expression. Most importantly, our use of symbolic language and collective learning allows us to create and progressively develop our technology and skills.

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