8 ms·
The evidence that they are using a complex "language" is definitely weak. For example, how does it prove that they aren't simply saying, "Hey, hey!" to each ot
by hcrisp 10y ago
The evidence that they are using a complex "language" is definitely weak. For example, how does it prove that they aren't simply saying, "Hey, hey!" to each other like the Far Side cartoon[0]? I would have preferred more interpretation of the different noises the dolphins make over the fact that they are making them in the first place.
[0] https://pupster.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/dog-translator.jpg https://pupster.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/dog-translator.j...
- monocasa 10y agoThey same way we are almost certain that the Voynich manuscript contains an undeciphered written language, by applying a combination of information theory, computational linguistics, and statistics.
- jpalomaki 10y agoFor those who don't know (like me): "The Voynich manuscript is an illustrated codex hand-written in an unknown writing system." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voynich_manuscript https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voynich_manuscript
- KingMob 10y agoIt's probably more informative than "Hey! Hey!", but it's not clear that it rises to the level of language, as opposed to communication. To be precise: not all communication is language, language involves grammar, which hasn't (yet) been conclusively demonstrated in any other species. Source: was a neuroscientist who TAed for a guy who tried to teach a chimp language in the 70's.
- junke 10y agoOr maybe they speak spanish: https://usercontent1.hubstatic.com/209666_f520.jpg https://usercontent1.hubstatic.com/209666_f520.jpg