Page 8 - Grasp English C1+ (Workbook)

1 Communıcatıon

In the animal kingdom, there are no mobile phones or emails – so how do animals communicate effectively
with each other?

Although animals can’t speak, many of them use sound to communicate, so while the birdsong you hear
early in the morning may sound erratic, there is actually a complex series of interactions going on. And this
auditory system of communication travels much greater distances than any human shout could. Wolves
howl to each other in the night to find out where members of the wolf pack are and also to warn other
wolves who might be getting too close to their territory. If you hear a howling wolf, you don’t need to worry
as it could easily be miles away from you.

Not all animals use sound to communicate, though. Visual communication is also very effective, especially
in attracting a mate. This is frequently seen in the bird kingdom; for example, male peacocks have brightly
coloured tails with elaborate designs which they use when trying to find a suitable female. Furthermore, the
differences in size and colouring between male and female birds are generally more obvious than between
genders in mammals. Visual communication is also important in insects, such as bees, who will “dance” to
show other members of their group where to find good nectar. Visual communication is also particularly
useful for cross-species communication. For example, some species of frog are brightly coloured to warn
predators that they are poisonous. Similarly, wasps and bees have black and yellow stripes to warn birds
and other animals not to eat them.
Another important aspect of animal communication which is used far less by humans is smell. Many
animals have a more highly-developed sense of smell than humans and frequently use scent to mark their
territory. Remember that next time a cat rubs up against you, it’s the cat’s way of saying, “Mine!” And whilst
we usually associate smelling with noses, many reptiles have smell sensors on their tongues, which is why
lizards and snakes are often seen with their tongues out, almost licking the air around them. This allows them
to know about any dangers there may be close by and also any possible food sources.

Finally, one other form of communication between animals is touch. In the same way that humans hug to
show affection or use aggression to show dominance, animals have a complex variety of physical gestures
to communicate with one another. Our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, such as chimpanzees and
gorillas, clean each other’s fur as a way of building and strengthening social and family relationships. This
non-verbal communication can be seen in other animals too; for example, to show attraction to another
giraffe, the animal will rub its own neck against its partner’s. Animals use gestures as well to express their
emotions; for example, a dog will often wag its tail when it’s happy, and rabbits stretch out when they feel
relaxed and safe.

With all these incredible forms of communication, it’s not surprising that animals don’t need to utter a single
word to be understood. That said, there are some animals which can mimic human forms of communication.
For example, parrots can be trained to copy words and phrases, and there are cases of gorillas and other
members of the ape family being taught human sign language.

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