What makes human language so different from animal vocalizations?
First of all, human language employs an element of order and syntax that animal “languages” lack. This element is the ability to create an infinite number of sentences that have never been uttered before. By combining different words in different orders, there are an unlimited number of unique meanings that could be implied. Steven Pinker writes, “Inside every language user’s head is a finite algorithm with the ability to generate an infinite number of potential sentences, each of which corresponds to a distinct thought” (Pinker 2003). The ability to use and understand syntax allows humans to communicate about things that aren’t happening at the moment. This concept, called displacement, is a distinguishing feature of human speech. Many times when animals use noises to communicate with others, their purpose is to instigate a certain type of response or to pass on important information relevant to the present time. However, the ability to discuss “cause-and-effect” relationships (that a
