These dolphins talk to each other. Why do we insist it isn’t language?

Re:These dolphins talk to each other. Why do we insist it is... by mac01021 on Thursday April 21, 2016 @04:57PM (#11545293)

Something I've always wondered about dolphins:

They are widely regarded as ranking among the most intelligent animals. At the very least, they seem to be much more trainable than a wide variety of other mammals.

But why? What about their lifestyle, diet, hunting methods, etc requires cognitive ability greater than that of (say) a shark or an antelope?

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Re:These dolphins talk to each other. Why do we insist it is... by jack9 on Friday April 22, 2016 @01:47AM (#11547288)

Same could be asked about humans. Quirk of evolution is my best guess.

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Re:These dolphins talk to each other. Why do we insist it is... by mac01021 on Friday April 22, 2016 @04:57PM (#11552509)

Noone would ask this question about humans. Humans use tools, coordinate their activity by communicating detailed questions, statements, and commands, and contrive elaborate schemes for altering their environments to be more favorable. The ability to do these things is accepted without controversy as being essential to their success as a species.

But dolphins: what do they do in their natural environment that utilizes such intelligence? If they just swim around eating fish and mating, then they need not be any smarter than sharks, which do basically the same thing.

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