scholarly journals Re-evaluating vocal production learning in non-oscine birds

2021 ◽  
Vol 376 (1836) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carel ten Cate
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Comparative Research ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Vocal Production ◽  
Broad Definition ◽  
Interspecific Variations ◽  
Phylogenetic Framework ◽  
Definition Of

The study of vocal production learning in birds is heavily biased towards oscine songbirds, making the songbird model the reference for comparative studies. However, as vocal learning was probably ancestral in songbirds, interspecific variations might all be variations on a single theme and need not be representative of the nature and characteristics of vocal learning in other bird groups. To assess the possible mechanisms of vocal learning and its evolution therefore requires knowledge about independently evolved incidences of vocal learning. This review examines the presence and nature of vocal production learning in non-songbirds. Using a broad definition of vocal learning and a comparative phylogenetic framework, I evaluate the evidence for vocal learning and its characteristics in non-oscine birds, including well-known vocal learners such as parrots and hummingbirds but also (putative) cases from other taxa. Despite the sometimes limited evidence, it is clear that vocal learning occurs in a range of different, non-related, taxa and can be caused by a variety of mechanisms. It is more widespread than often realized, calling for more systematic studies. Examining this variation may provide a window onto the evolution of vocal learning and increase the value of comparative research for understanding vocal learning in humans. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Vocal learning in animals and humans’.

scholarly journals Vocal production learning in mammals revisited

2021 ◽  
Vol 376 (1836) ◽  
pp. 20200244
Author(s):  
Vincent M. Janik ◽  
Mirjam Knörnschild
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Type Result ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Vocal Production ◽  
Learning Skills ◽  
Acoustic Models ◽  
Vocal Convergence ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Vocal production learning, the ability to modify the structure of vocalizations as a result of hearing those of others, has been studied extensively in birds but less attention has been given to its occurrence in mammals. We summarize the available evidence for vocal learning in mammals from the last 25 years, updating earlier reviews on the subject. The clearest evidence comes from cetaceans, pinnipeds, elephants and bats where species have been found to copy artificial or human language sounds, or match acoustic models of different sound types. Vocal convergence, in which parameter adjustments within one sound type result in similarities between individuals, occurs in a wider range of mammalian orders with additional evidence from primates, mole-rats, goats and mice. Currently, the underlying mechanisms for convergence are unclear with vocal production learning but also usage learning or matching physiological states being possible explanations. For experimental studies, we highlight the importance of quantitative comparisons of seemingly learned sounds with vocal repertoires before learning started or with species repertoires to confirm novelty. Further studies on the mammalian orders presented here as well as others are needed to explore learning skills and limitations in greater detail. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Vocal learning in animals and humans’.

scholarly journals What can animal communication teach us about human language?

2019 ◽  
Vol 375 (1789) ◽  
pp. 20190042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam R. Fishbein ◽  
Jonathan B. Fritz ◽  
William J. Idsardi ◽  
Gerald S. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Research ◽  
Animal Communication ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Human Language ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Theme Issue

Language has been considered by many to be uniquely human. Numerous theories for how it evolved have been proposed but rarely tested. The articles in this theme issue consider the extent to which aspects of language, such as vocal learning, phonology, syntax, semantics, intentionality, cognition and neurobiological adaptations, are shared with other animals. By adopting a comparative approach, insights into the mechanisms and origins of human language can be gained. While points of agreement exist among the authors, conflicting viewpoints are expressed on several issues, such as the presence of proto-syntax in animal communication, the neural basis of the Merge operation, and the neurogenetic changes necessary for vocal learning. Future comparative research in animal communication has the potential to teach us even more about the evolution, neurobiology and cognitive basis of human language. This article is part of the theme issue ‘What can animal communication teach us about human language?’

scholarly journals Towards a new taxonomy of primate vocal production learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 375 (1789) ◽  
pp. 20190045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Fischer ◽  
Kurt Hammerschmidt
Keyword(s):  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Animal Communication ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Auditory Comprehension ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Vocal Production ◽  
Evolution Of Speech ◽  
Ontogenetic Trajectory ◽  
Auditory Experience ◽  
Species Specific

The extent to which vocal learning can be found in nonhuman primates is key to reconstructing the evolution of speech. Regarding the adjustment of vocal output in relation to auditory experience (vocal production learning in the narrow sense), effects on the ontogenetic trajectory of vocal development as well as adjustment to group-specific call features have been found. Yet, a comparison of the vocalizations of different primate genera revealed striking similarities in the structure of calls and repertoires in different species of the same genus, indicating that the structure of nonhuman primate vocalizations is highly conserved. Thus, modifications in relation to experience only appear to be possible within relatively tight species-specific constraints. By contrast, comprehension learning may be extremely rapid and open-ended. In conjunction, these findings corroborate the idea of an ancestral independence of vocal production and auditory comprehension learning. To overcome the futile debate about whether or not vocal production learning can be found in nonhuman primates, we suggest putting the focus on the different mechanisms that may mediate the adjustment of vocal output in response to experience; these mechanisms may include auditory facilitation and learning from success. This article is part of the theme issue ‘What can animal communication teach us about human language?’

scholarly journals Vocal imitations and production learning by Australian musk ducks ( Biziura lobata )

2021 ◽  
Vol 376 (1836) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carel ten Cate ◽  
Peter J. Fullagar
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Vocal Production ◽  
Flexible Control ◽  
Human Voice ◽  
Black Duck ◽  
Basal Clade ◽  
Rearing Conditions ◽  
Repetitive Structure ◽  
Different Origins

Acquiring vocalizations by learning them from other individuals is only known from a limited number of animal groups. For birds, oscine and some suboscine songbirds, parrots and hummingbirds demonstrate this ability. Here, we provide evidence for vocal learning in a member of a basal clade of the avian phylogeny: the Australian musk duck ( Biziura lobata ). A hand-reared individual imitated a slamming door and a human voice, and a female-reared individual imitated Pacific black duck quacks. These sounds have been described before, but were never analysed in any detail and went so far unnoticed by researchers of vocal learning. The imitations were produced during the males' advertising display. The hand-reared male used at least three different vocalizations in the display context, with each one produced in the same stereotyped and repetitive structure as the normal display sounds. Sounds of different origins could be combined in one vocalization and at least some of the imitations were memorized at an early age, well before they were produced later in life. Together with earlier observations of vocal differences between populations and deviant vocalizations in captive-reared individuals, these observations demonstrate the presence of advanced vocal learning at a level comparable to that of songbirds and parrots. We discuss the rearing conditions that may have given rise to the imitations and suggest that the structure of the duck vocalizations indicates a quite sophisticated and flexible control over the vocal production mechanism. The observations support the hypothesis that vocal learning in birds evolved in several groups independently rather than evolving once with several losses. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Vocal learning in animals and humans’.

scholarly journals A researcher's guide to the comparative assessment of vocal production learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 376 (1836) ◽  
pp. 20200237
Author(s):  
Ella Z. Lattenkamp ◽  
Stephen G. Hörpel ◽  
Janine Mengede ◽  
Uwe Firzlaff
Keyword(s):  
Sound Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Comparative Assessment ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Animal Kingdom ◽  
Vocal Production ◽  
Five Factors

Vocal production learning (VPL) is the capacity to learn to produce new vocalizations, which is a rare ability in the animal kingdom and thus far has only been identified in a handful of mammalian taxa and three groups of birds. Over the last few decades, approaches to the demonstration of VPL have varied among taxa, sound production systems and functions. These discrepancies strongly impede direct comparisons between studies. In the light of the growing number of experimental studies reporting VPL, the need for comparability is becoming more and more pressing. The comparative evaluation of VPL across studies would be facilitated by unified and generalized reporting standards, which would allow a better positioning of species on any proposed VPL continuum. In this paper, we specifically highlight five factors influencing the comparability of VPL assessments: (i) comparison to an acoustic baseline, (ii) comprehensive reporting of acoustic parameters, (iii) extended reporting of training conditions and durations, (iv) investigating VPL function via behavioural, perception-based experiments and (v) validation of findings on a neuronal level. These guidelines emphasize the importance of comparability between studies in order to unify the field of vocal learning. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Vocal learning in animals and humans’.

scholarly journals Variation in vocal production learning across songbirds

2021 ◽  
Vol 376 (1836) ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Searcy ◽  
Jill Soha ◽  
Susan Peters ◽  
Stephen Nowicki
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Vocal Production ◽  
Song Development

Songbirds as a whole are considered to be vocal production learners, meaning that they modify the structure of their vocalizations as a result of experience with the vocalizations of others. The more than 4000 species of songbirds, however, vary greatly in crucial features of song development. Variable features include: (i) the normality of the songs of early-deafened birds, reflecting the importance of innate motor programmes in song development; (ii) the normality of the songs of isolation-reared birds, reflecting the combined importance of innate auditory templates and motor programmes; (iii) the degree of selectivity in choice of external models; (iv) the accuracy of copying from external models; and (v) whether or not learning from external models continues into adulthood. We suggest that because of this variability, some songbird species, specifically those that are able to develop songs in the normal range without exposure to external models, can be classified as limited vocal learners. Those species that require exposure to external models to develop songs in the normal range can be considered complex vocal learners. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Vocal learning in animals and humans’.

We is Plural

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-238
Author(s):  
Nienke van Andel ◽  
Martin J.M. Hoondert ◽  
Marcel Barnard
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Broad Definition ◽  
Definition Of

Even before they started the editorial board of the new Dutch hymnal was blamed for being too elitist. The fact that they had been selected on the basis of their expertise made them vulnerable for such criticism. Subsequently the position of the editors has been a point of continuous reflection. In this contribution, we will argue that this image of editors as dissociated from users of the hymn book is only one among several available identity repertoires. In order to answer the question which ‘identities-in-relation-to-users’ do the editors construct in the meetings of the board and how do they value these identities?, we will use a broad definition of identity and focus on positions performed in social interaction. The interaction in question concerns seven selected meetings of the editorial board, all of which were audio-taped and transcribed. Looking closely at the identities that were constructed during those meetings, we distinguish six positions, ranging from a great to no distance between editors and users: editors, professionals, experienced, vanguard, pleasers and equals.

scholarly journals Race Analysis in Competitive Swimming: A Narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Gonjo ◽  
Bjørn Harald Olstad
Keyword(s):  
Web Of Science ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Competitive Swimming ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Short Course ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Race Analysis

Researchers have quantified swimming races for several decades to provide objective information on race strategy and characteristics. The purpose of the present review was to summarize knowledge established in the literature and current issues in swimming race analysis. A systematic search of the literature for the current narrative review was conducted in September 2020 using Web of Science, SPORTDiscus (via EBSCO), and PubMed. After examining 321 studies, 22 articles were included in the current review. Most studies divided the race into the start, clean swimming, turn, and/or finish segments; however, the definition of each segment varied, especially for the turn. Ideal definitions for the start and turn-out seemed to differ depending on the stroke styles and swimmers’ level. Many studies have focused on either 100 m or 200 m events with the four strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle). Contrastingly, there were few or no studies for 50 m, long-distance, individual medley, and relay events. The number of studies examining races for short course, junior and Paralympic swimmers were also very limited. Future studies should focus on those with limited evidence as well as race analysis outside competitions in which detailed kinematic and physiological analyses are possible.

Developing a Philosophy of Scientific Advancement in Muhammadiyah Higher Education Institutions Based on Al-Islam and Kemuhammadiyahan (AIK) Principles

Afkaruna ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syamsul Anwar
Keyword(s):  
Modern Science ◽  
Science And Religion ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Scientific Development ◽  
Broad Definition ◽  
Internal Reasons ◽  
Scientific Advancement ◽  
Scientific Philosophy ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Learning Institutions

This article addresses critical ideas about constructing scientific philosophy within the Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah Higher Learning Institutions (PTMA) circles through the concept of integrating Al-Islam and Kemuhammadiyahan (Islam and Muhammadiyah Principles), abbreviated as AIK, into the process of developing knowledge and science. Thus, the author provides a broad definition of AIK and distinguishes it into three main aspects. In the next step, the author explains two reasons for developing scientific philosophy in PTMA, including internal reasons in Muhammadiyah and Islam and external ones related to the development of modern science. Consequently, two approaches can be applied to integrate AIK into scientific development through objective and subjective approaches. In definition, the objective approach is a way of dealing with the issues through analyzing and re-building the structure of science it including paradigm (ontology), theories and methods (epistemology), and applications (axiology). In contrast, the subjective approach is the enrichment of the scientist through considering science and religion as complementary instead of contradictory.

“Earth has clear call of daily bells”: Nature’s Apocalyptic Liturgy in Christina Rossetti’s Verses

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 172-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chene Heady Faulstick
Keyword(s):  
Religious Experience ◽  
Religious Conversion ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Modern World ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Broad Definition ◽  
Emotional Interaction ◽  
Baroque Art ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Religious Understanding

AbstractThis essay reconsiders Charles Ryder’s religious conversion in Brideshead Revisited in terms of a primarily emotional conversion. When reading the novel as a pilgrimage to passion, readers can see in Charles a legitimate, convincing emotional conversion, which should—when emphasizing traditional Catholic ideals—ultimately also be understood as a religious conversion. Charles’s emotional interaction with Catholicism includes his intimate, formative relationship with the Catholic Flyte family, especially Sebastian, and aspects of his career as a Baroque artist, as Baroque art is often identified with Catholicism. It also includes Charles’s disenchantment with both the soullessness of war, which drains its participants of any emotional experience, and the modern world, which lacks connection to depth and tradition. Finally, the emotive power of his inadvertent pilgrimage to Brideshead also connects Charles to Catholicism as the house facilitates Charles’s memories of his religious experience at Lord Marchmain’s deathbed, his artistic conversion to Baroque art, and his passionate friendship with Sebastian. Such a broad definition of Catholicism calls for an expansive understanding of religion, but it is this kind of a religious understanding that Brideshead Revisited recommends.

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