Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-16
The Language Of AnImnIs.

OhbAA Aoebhtll tlo olNAluGhuGt VI Nul-
NAL language has been very little studied
by man. The phenomenon Of deaf
muteism, however, has disposed of the
assumption that words are necessary to
thought, and it is becoming manifest
that the science of comparative Lam
guage should include all forms of express
sion, and not merely those that are
vocal, or that are represented by articu-
lated sounds. II can not be gainsaid
that certain animals have q very afflu-
ent vocabulary, made up Of inarticulate
sounds, looks, and actions, which are
capable Of expressing, not only emotion,
but ideas, intentions, wishes. Houzeau
has pointed out the inferiority of the
language of certain savages TO that of
various animals, and Darwin shows the
superior expressiyeness to mere words
of the inarticulate cries, which, along
with feature-play, eye, or look language
and gesture, or attitude, are common
TO man, with other animals. We must
bear in mind that in the Judgment of
competent anthrOpologists the language
Of prehistoric man was confined to mere
interiections, or cries. At the present
time certain aborigines of BorneO have
no language of their own, and the talk
of the savages Of Sumatra is described
rs a sort Of croak, or cackle. Some ma
tives of the Philippine Islands, and some
South African Bushmen, utter only
inarticulate sounds of the nature Of
shrieks. Again, Brazilian Botokudos
speak little TO one another, but rather
mutually grunt and snuille; and the
Veddas of Ceylon use only signs, griI
maces, and gutteral sounds Finally, tho
absence of spoken language, and the
custom of bowling or yelliug by night,
and whining by day, are among the
traits or habits of the so-caled wolf
children of India.
The recent experiments Of Prof. Fer
rier tend TO show that human and ami
NAL language are identical-that the
barking of dog and mewing of the cat
are the equivalents of speech in man,
and that the faculty of language, in
both cases, has the same seat in the
brain. He dwells, also, on the great
variety of feelings and ideas which can
be expressed by the inarticulate cries of
animals; these can often be interpreted
with perfect accuracy by their human
analogues. Thus the war cry of the
gorilla is said to be human-like in its
tone, resembling that of savage man
under equivalent circumstances. The
bear whelp, when hungry, walls like a
child, and the piteous wall of young
seal for its slaughtered mother is de.
scribed as very like that of human in
FAINT. The female jaco monkey sobs
when tired, just as the child does, and
the young. .siamang utters pettish cries,
and offers resistance while being washed
by its mother. The chimpanzee has
shouts of pleasure in his amusements,
and female ourang when offered un-
savOry food screams, and stamps with
its feet, just like child in passion.
Man soon learns TO understand, when
it becomes his interest to do so, the sig
nifcance of the vocal utterances, fea-
lures, attitudes, or movements of other
animals. And similarly the anthropoid
ape, dog, elephant, horse, and other
arises, and they have the neces-
sary opportunity, speedily learn
mans language-not the mean
ing Of his looks and acts merely,
but frequently of his words, phrases
and conversation. That domestic ami
mails know the meaning of words and
combinations thereof embodied in mans
orders, is matter of daily experience.
All of them, for instance, understand
his various calls for them to attend food
supply, and many of them know their
own proper names. Others do not only
understand MANS questions, but reply
10 them in various ways. The sea-bear,
of the London Geological Gardens, un-
derstands It's keepers verbal language,
and responds to his questions by various
sounds and gestures. The performing
dog picks out certain cards containing
in printed letters appropriate replies to
the various questions of its master, as
if it has read the printed answer before
using it. Certain dogs know, not only
when they are spoken TO, but when
spoken of casually in the conversation
of their masters. Thus Hogg, the Et-
trick shepherd, relates that his dog,
overhearing its master propose leaving
it behind on journey, went off alone,
and in advance, meeting his master at
his destination. DIR. Macaulay cites the
instance of bitch who, on overhearing,
from time to time, the days of her mas
ter's homecoming mentioned, never
failed to go and meet him. The parrot,
too, not only recognizes its own name
when cursorily spoken of, but under
stands commendatory or disparaging
comments.
Such ability TO understand mans Ian
guage implies, of course, an aptitude to
learn it, and also an especial study of it.
Again, this aptitude and study unques-
tionably involve high degree of intelli-
gence, the power Of close and keen, long
and careful observation, the faculty OF
reflection and ability to draw inference
from the facts of observation. With
Houzeau, DR.. Lindsay regards the pow
er of talking, the gift of articulate
speech, as latent In all anthropoid apes,
and as feasible result of mans system,
attic efforts in their education. Hereto,
fore, the training of the quadrumana
where attempted at all, has been
prosecuted on q very limited
scale utterly insufficient to enable
us to measure the extent to which
their intellectual and moral powers may
be developed. Were the benefits of sys
tematic and iudicious education be
slowed on the soko, chimpanzee, and
other highly organized types, and pro
longed through generations, as in thu
case of the dog, the anthropoid ape
might be expected 10 stand next TO civ
ilized man in moral and intellectual ca
pacity, as he indisputably does in aspeo
and structure. And why should natur
alists trouble themselves 10 seek what L
known as the missing link when the sokl
described by Livingstone is pronounced
the ethical and mental superior of thl
negro races in his vioinityP
China does not intend to relinquisl
lts control in Central Asia, and is salt
TO be willing to risk war with Russia
/ nnh nnlu 10 nninfain IL hnh avon To ne