Communication in Humans and Other Animals

Communication is a basic behaviour, found across animal species. Human language is often thought of as a unique system, which separates humans from other animals. This textbook serves as a guide to different types of communication, and suggests that each is unique in its own way: human verbal and nonverbal communication, communication in nonhuman primates, in dogs and in birds. Research questions and findings from different perspectives are summarized and integrated to show students similarities and differences in the rich diversity of communicative behaviours.
A core topic is how young individuals proceed from not being able to communicate to reaching a state of competent communicators, and the role of adults in this developmental process. Evolutionary aspects are also taken into consideration, and ideas about the evolution of human language are examined. The cross-disciplinary nature of the book makes it useful for courses in linguistics, biology, sociology and psychology, but it is also valuable reading for anyone interested in understanding communicative behaviour.

Per Jensen, Professor of Ethology, Linköping University:
This is a fascinating text, which bridges the gap between human and non-human communication. Whereas human spoken language is often considered qualitatively different from communication in other species, the authors successfully show the evolutionary continuum and thereby place human verbal interactions in a fascinating context. I hope the book will find a large audience.