Department of Psychology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2020 Jan 6;375(1789):20180403. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0403. Epub 2019 Nov 18.
Despite important similarities having been found between human and animal communication systems, surprisingly little research effort has focussed on whether the cognitive mechanisms underpinning these behaviours are also similar. In particular, it is highly debated whether signal production is the result of reflexive processes, or can be characterized as intentional. Here, we critically evaluate the criteria that are used to identify signals produced with different degrees of intentionality, and discuss recent attempts to apply these criteria to the vocal, gestural and multimodal communicative signals of great apes and more distantly related species. Finally, we outline the necessary research tools, such as physiologically validated measures of arousal, and empirical evidence that we believe would propel this debate forward and help unravel the evolutionary origins of human intentional communication. This article is part of the theme issue 'What can animal communication teach us about human language?'
尽管人类和动物的通讯系统之间存在着重要的相似之处，但令人惊讶的是，很少有研究关注这些行为背后的认知机制是否也相似。特别是，信号的产生是反射过程的结果，还是可以被描述为有意的，这一点存在很大的争议。在这里，我们批判性地评估了用于识别具有不同程度意向性的信号的标准，并讨论了最近应用这些标准来分析类人猿和更远缘物种的声音、手势和多模态交际信号的尝试。最后，我们概述了必要的研究工具，如生理验证的唤醒测量，以及我们认为将推动这一辩论并有助于揭示人类有意交际的进化起源的实证证据。本文是主题为“动物的通讯能告诉我们什么关于人类语言？”的一部分。
