Orca and Human
Communication
Intro
Initial Hypothesis – Orca communication consists of few gestures and
limited vocal sounds such as clicks and whistles, while humans’
advanced communication has allowed symbolic language and
collective learning, enabling us to continuously progress in
knowledge, skills and technology.
Verbal Communication Similarities and
Differences
• Humans use speech
• Orcas use clicks, whistles and pulsed calls
• Whistles – close-range or private communication; coordination of
behavioural interactions
• Pulsed calls – group recognition and coordination of behaviour.
(SeaWorld, 2015)
• Dr John Ford: orca pods have individual dialects
• Calves develop calls from their mothers (Org, 2015)
• Vocalisation restricted and used for hunting and navigation
• Dr Noam Chomsky: language is unique to humans; comes naturally
because our brains are unique; other animals lack ‘language organ’
(Patent, 1998)
Non-verbal Communication Similarities
and Differences
•
•
•
•
Orcas use gestures
Head-butting and jaw-snapping show aggression
Breaching and pec-slapping not understood (SeaWorld, 2015)
Ingrid Visser – Orca research trust in New Zealand
Differences
• Orcas: Gestures used infrequently; messages/emotions are not as
complex.
• Paul Watzlawick: humans communicate verbally and non-verbally.
(Eppling, 2008)
• Humans interpret messages deeply by identifying emotions and
attitudes underlying verbal communication.
• Orcas do not have the vocal ability to share abstract ideas
• Humans developed symbolic language and collective learning
Effects of Differences
• David Christian: symbolic language allows humans to describe
something hypothetical or something that doesn’t exist.
• Communicate hunting, farming and social interaction
• Communicate about past and future
• Expand on previous information and knowledge
• Continuously build our technology.
• Colonised the whole earth (Christian, 2015)
Conclusion
Orcas communicate using gestures and vocal sounds such as clicks
and whistles, and they use these mainly to hunt and navigate.
Humans communicate using a range of methods including talk,
gesture, tone and facial expression. Most importantly, our use of
symbolic language and collective learning allows us to create and
progressively develop our technology and skills.
Bibliography
• Baker, A. (1972). Whales & Dolphins. Hong Kong: Victoria University Press.
• Christian, D. (2015, June 16). Collective Learning. Retrieved from The Big Hisory Project:
https://school.bighistoryproject.com/pages/console/?clientkey=54805#media/{9C3FFF1
3-6A09-4298-8A37-56B1B53BDEB1}
• Eppling, D. (2008, July 15). You Cannot Communicate. Retrieved from krauthammer:
http://www.krauthammer.com/articles/you-cannot-not-communicate
• Org, K. W. (2015, June 10). Killer Whale Communication. Retrieved from Killer-Whale.org:
http://www.killer-whale.org/killer-whale-communication/
• Patent, D. (1998, June 17). Chapter 5: Lanuage - a Human Specialty . Retrieved from
EBSCO: http://support.ebsco.com/help/?int=ehost&lang=&feature_id=HarvAus
• Planet, A. (Director). (2010). Orcas Attack Seal [Motion Picture].
• SeaWorld. (2015, June 10). SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved from
Communication & Echolocation: http://seaworld.org/animal-info/animalinfobooks/killer-whale/communication-and-echolocation/