Why Animals Talk
The New Science of Animal Communication
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- USD 11.99
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- USD 11.99
Descripción editorial
"Animal communication doesn’t need to resemble human language to be full of meaning and nuance. Arik Kershenbaum delivers an expert overview of the astonishing discoveries made in the last few decades" —Frans de Waal
From leading zoologist Arik Kershenbaum, a delightful and groundbreaking exploration of animal communication and its true meaning
Animal communication has forever seemed intelligible. We are surrounded by animals and the cacophony of sounds that they make—from the chirping of songbirds to the growls of lions on the savanna—but we have yet to fully understand why animals communicate the way they do. What are they saying? This is only part of the mystery. To go deeper, we must also ask, what is motivating them?
Why Animals Talk is an exhilarating journey through the untamed world of animal communication. Following his international bestseller, The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy, acclaimed zoologist Arik Kershenbaum draws on extensive original research to reveal how many of the animal kingdom’s most seemingly confusing or untranslatable signals are in fact logical and consistent—and not that different from our own. His fascinating deep dive into this timeless subject overturns decades of conventional wisdom, inviting readers to experience for the first time communication through the minds of animals themselves.
From the majestic howls of wolves and the enchanting chatter of parrots to the melodic clicks of dolphins and the spirited grunts of chimpanzees, these often strange expressions are far from mere noise. In fact, they hold secrets that we are just beginning to decipher. It’s one of the oldest mysteries that has haunted Homo sapiens for hundreds of thousands of years: Are animals talking just like us, or are we the only animals on the planet to have our own language?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this rewarding study, Cambridge University zoologist Kershenbaum (The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy) examines the meaning behind howls, screeches, and other calls of the wild. He explains that wolf howls can be heard over 10 kilometers away and help pack members keep in touch with one another while alerting outsiders that they're in another pack's territory. Each dolphin develops its own "signature whistle" to identify itself to others, Kershenbaum writes, noting that dolphins get excited when they hear the whistle of another dolphin they haven't seen in a long time. Recounting his own work with African gray parrots at a Canary Islands zoo, Kershenbaum describes how male rivals attempt to establish social dominance by copying and embellishing one another's calls in a "kind of avian dueling banjos." Elsewhere, Kershenbaum discusses how gibbon couples bond by rehearsing complex vocal duets, and how male hyraxes (rabbit-like mammals) signal their strength by "singing," hoping to intimidate other males who may pose competition for mates. The captivating science highlights the complexity of animal calls, and Kershenbaum takes pains not to overstate the findings, stressing that humans are likely the only species capable of understanding grammar. Animal lovers will want to give this a spin. Photos.
