Jimena Rinaldi
sábado, 30 de julio de 2016
miércoles, 22 de junio de 2016
Something interesting about the culture of species
Sperm Whales'
Language Reveals
Hints of Culture
These deep-diving whales off the Galápagos have their own dialects,
a sign that they have a culture
.
a sign that they have a culture
.
By Jane J. Lee,
National Geographic
PUBLISHED
Female sperm whales and their calves swim off
the coast of Pinta Island in the Galápagos.
|
New ways to grab dinner, the trick to
using a tool, and learning the local
dialect. These are behaviors that
animals pick up from each other.
Killer whales, chimpanzees, and birds
seem to have a cultural component to
their lives. Now a new study suggests
that sperm whales should be added to
that list.
A study published Tuesday in the journal Nature
Communication ssuggests that
culture—behaviors shared by group members—
keeps these sperm whale clans together.
Specifically, these deep-diving whales have a
distinct series of clicks called codas they use to
communicate during social interactions.
Communication ssuggests that
culture—behaviors shared by group members—
keeps these sperm whale clans together.
Specifically, these deep-diving whales have a
distinct series of clicks called codas they use to
communicate during social interactions.
Sperm whales with similar behaviors spend
time together, and they pick up vocalizations
from each other. Scientists call this social
learning. Whales that "speak the same language"
stick together, giving rise to the clans that
researchers have observed for more than 30 years.
time together, and they pick up vocalizations
from each other. Scientists call this social
learning. Whales that "speak the same language"
stick together, giving rise to the clans that
researchers have observed for more than 30 years.
Why It Matters
This is one more pillar of support for the idea that
animals have culture, says lead study author
Mauricio Cantor, a marine biologist at
Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
animals have culture, says lead study author
Mauricio Cantor, a marine biologist at
Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
When Cantor and colleagues ran computer
simulations to determine the most likely way
the clans formed, factors like genetic relatedness
or the transmission of information from mother
to offspring couldn't explain the pattern observed
in the wild. The best explanation their analysis
could find was a preference in how sperm whales
learned vocalizations. "Like-minded" individuals
learned from each other.
simulations to determine the most likely way
the clans formed, factors like genetic relatedness
or the transmission of information from mother
to offspring couldn't explain the pattern observed
in the wild. The best explanation their analysis
could find was a preference in how sperm whales
learned vocalizations. "Like-minded" individuals
learned from each other.
The Big Picture
It's fascinating to see that animals like whales
display something that may seem uniquely human,
Cantor says. But really,
"we're not that different from them."
display something that may seem uniquely human,
Cantor says. But really,
"we're not that different from them."
Killer whale pods have their own dialects,
humpback whales pass on new feeding behaviors
via their social networks, and chimpanzees share
the secrets of tool use with their compatriots.
humpback whales pass on new feeding behaviors
via their social networks, and chimpanzees share
the secrets of tool use with their compatriots.
Cantor hopes that by learning more and more
about animals, people will be moved to think
about the environment and perhaps act on calls
for conserving the planet.
about animals, people will be moved to think
about the environment and perhaps act on calls
for conserving the planet.
What's Next
Cantor and colleagues plan to look back at
historic data on sperm whale clans from
30 years ago and compare them
with clans today. "We want to know how their
[vocalizations have] changed over time."
historic data on sperm whale clans from
30 years ago and compare them
with clans today. "We want to know how their
[vocalizations have] changed over time."
First Language Acquisition
How come we acquire language, the most difficult thing in our life, at the age of five and
without any effort?
I strongly agree with Chomsky’s theory of innateness. Its main argument is that children are
creative with the language, so they do not learn it by imitation. Besides, Chomsky argues that
there must be a natural order to acquire the language in all human beings. Even though
language is a complex system, a child does not need to be formally taught to acquire it. Of
course it does not exist a way to prove how this “Black Box” works because there is
no technology to study the process that happens inside the mind; but the
theory has been proved by observing children acquiring their first Language.
Furthermore, it is very interesting to understand the arguments why Chomsky maintains the
existence of the Universal Grammar. We do not need extensive Input, just a few of it to trigger the
process because the things that are missing from the Input are added by the UG. As a result,
there can be many possible responses to only one stimulus (stimulus free). In other words,
Chomsky’s theory suggests:
The poverty of the stimulus argument:
- Children hear only a finite number of sentences.
- They are able to abstract the rules of a language.
- They produce an infinite number of sentences without any formal training.
In my opinion, this is the most engaging part of the Chapter because it explains Chomsky’s
theory in a deeper way. And it is interesting how Chomsky’s and Plato’s theories are
contrasted. Personally, I agree with Plato’s theory about previous lives, and I believe
Chomsky’s “black box” is part of our consciousness. Nowadays, scientists study memory
beyond death and the consciousness is being studied as an independent part of the brain, as if
it was part of the soul. However, I am aware that this is a very personal belief without any solid
scientific source.
To conclude, I think that there is no theory that can refuse Chomsky’s. Even though
there is no evidence on how U.G. works inside the brain, there are no doubts about all the
facts that have been studied about how humans acquire the language.
domingo, 12 de junio de 2016
Macrofunction and Microfunction
Tasks
|
Macrofunction
|
Microfunction
|
Grammar
|
Watch a video about “Travel
around the World” and ask your partner for interesting places to visit. Then
tell your partner which of the places you visited were the best .
|
Exchanging goods and
services
|
Asking for and
giving directions
|
Wh- questions
Yes/no questions
|
domingo, 29 de mayo de 2016
Sunday Morning!
Hello!! As we are students of English I wanted to delight you with some British pancakes! I made them with the recipe of the british Nigella Lawson. But I added them "dulce de leche" instead of blueberry sauce to give them the Argentine touch!
Mixing cultures is part of our daily life!
Mixing cultures is part of our daily life!
bon appétit!
viernes, 13 de mayo de 2016
martes, 10 de mayo de 2016
Welcome to my Blog!
Hello! Welcome to my new Blog! My name is Jimena Rinaldi, I'm a student from the Teaching Training College (ISFD Nº55). I created this blog to share with you my passions (English, Music and Art). Through this site I am planning to show the music that I love, the drawing and paintings that I do and my interest in the English Language. These are my favourite drawings! I hope you enjoy them!
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