{"product_id":"animal-languages-eva-meijer-9780262044035","title":"Animal Languages","description":"\u003cb\u003eHow animals speak to each other and to humans, from chimpanzees who learn sign language to dogs who parse the meaning of other dogs' growls.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003eIs language what sets humans apart from other animals, as many have argued? Or do animals speak in their own languages, to each other and to us? In \u003ci\u003eAnimal Languages\u003c\/i\u003e, Eva Meijer explores the latter possibility. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeijer tells us about Alex, the gray parrot who knew more than one hundred words, and Chaser, the border collie who had a talent for grammar. She introduces us to Washoe, the chimpanzee who grew up with humans and learned sign language; Kosik, the elephant who spoke to humans in human language and to his female elephant companion in elephant language; and Noc, the beluga whale who mimicked human speech. She tells us that dogs are able to interpret the meaning of other dogs' growls; that prairie dogs have alarm calls that offer informative details about intruders (specifying, among other things, size, color, and speed of approach); and that marmosets take turns in conversations and teach this skill to their offspring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut beyond all these interesting details, Meijer makes a more profound observation. Talking with animals forces us to challenge the hierarchy of humans and other animals, and suggests a new way of thinking about language. \u003ci\u003eAnimal Languages\u003c\/i\u003e shows us that language is broader and richer than we imagined, and that meaningful expression does not require human words. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Eva Meijer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 026204403X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780262044035\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e MIT Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/18\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.10h x 5.50w x 0.90d","brand":"Eva Meijer","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44046155743487,"sku":"9780262044035","price":27.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_feb9797d-6e74-439f-a43f-e52c82707599.jpg?v=1684982959","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/animal-languages-eva-meijer-9780262044035","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}